CHINESE LABOR STRIKE

All of us know that China is the biggest population in the world, and indirectly, it makes China to have the biggest labor pool in the world. Big population is one of the most important incentives that makes China becomes home for most products in the world. But then, we heard many news about the poor labor protection in China. Yes, it is really saddening… But let’s take a look of this article and think what can we do for the labor’s right…

The World’s Factory

China, moreover the southern Guangdong province, has abundant array of manufacturing facilities. It becomes “the world’s factory.” Like I said earlier, China has abundance of labor pool and this contributes a lot in making China “the world’s factory.” The saddening thing is this endless supply of workers are willing to work for a very low payment, as they have no choice to make a living for their family. Not only a very low payment, but most of the time, they also received an unfair treatment.

At the time, finally, they realized. Number of labor force demanding a better pay and treatment have been increasing. In response, the government is cracking down on the labor rights NGOs.

Labor NGOs is labors’ best friend. Why? Almost everything in China is controlled by the government. For sure, government people often friendlier to employers rather than to workers.

The “Center”

Zeng Feiyang, leader of the Guangzhou-based Panyu Migrant Workers Center. He is one of the nation’s most outspoken activists. Currently, he has been afflicted with a smear campaign stated that Zeng intercepted and embezzled payments from factory employers meant for workers after strikes he helped organize.

Zeng Feiyang

At the end of last year, Zeng helped to coordinate series of successful strikes. His center, one of about 30 labor right groups in southern China, provides workshops that shows factory employees how to organize strikes, and provides them with legal aid. There’s another surprising aspect of his center, it receives funding from overseas organizations and offers them reports on China’s labor movement in return, and it has close contacts with foreign embassies in China.

There are 7 labor activists, including Zeng, were investigated by police. They came from at least four local NGOs. One was convicted with embezzlement, while the three others were convicted with inciting crowds to disrupt public order. Currently, on December 3, there was the latest incident, more than 20 labor activists in Guangdong were arrested.

According to the police investigation, Zeng who is a married man, and it reported that he had affairs with 8 women. He also often tries to persuade female workers and volunteers to have sex with him. In addition, Zeng Feiyang is keen on online “nude chats,” prostitution, and sending a large number of sex videos and vulgar text messages to different women. Zeng Feiyang had joined a nude chat QQ group, but was kicked out because he was too dirty. Police have also seized a large number of pornographic materials at Zeng Feiyang’s home.

In other words, central government wants to say, when Beijing seems overly sensitive on the labor issue, it isn’t without reason. Labor costs in China have been increasing lately, and it causes many factories move to cheaper locations, such as Vietnam or Bangladesh.

On the other hand, number of protests and strikes in Guangdong is keep increasing. Overall, Guangdong has had almost 400 strikes last year. The number was the most across the country.

Chinese government tightly monitors and controls most types of activism that may cause public instability. Five feminist activists were arrested in March after planning to distribute promotional materials against sexual harassment. And in July more than 100 lawyers and human rights activists and their relatives were jailed across the country.