Gort, I would like to reiterate that my answer should be related to the direct crux of your question - highlighted in red. Many of the responses thus far fail to distinguish between low-wage economies and the concepts 'slavery', 'wretched' and 'zilch'  .
To the best of my knowledge, most of the diecast we purchase comes from reputable manufacturers that are unlikely to fall within the exact conditions you allude to. That said, I'm sure that if any company is found to be following 'sweatshop' working practices (as happened to Nike some years back) and it is sufficiently publicised, the likely response from collectors would be strong and the offending company would in all probability be forced to improve working conditions/practices and terms of service for its employees ... |
I took Gort's comments (highlighted in red) to be hyperbole.
Gort, did you
really mean enslaved workers bound with chains and guarded by dogs and all that old timey 18th Century stuff? Please Sir, may I have another bowl of porridge? LOL