Toy workers in south China smash police cars, offices in labor dispute
26/11/2008 15:55
More than 500 workers of a leading toy producer in Dongguan, in south
China's Guangdong Province, smashed police vehicles and company offices last
night in a labor dispute, police and witnesses said.
Most of the workers had
been told by their employer, Kaida Toy Corp Ltd in Zhongtang Township, that it
would terminate their contracts with an average compensation of one month's
wages. That would be less than 1,000 yuan (about US$143) for most workers, a
protesting worker told Xinhua early today.
At least 80 workers, having worked
for nearly 10 years at the company, were unhappy with the arrangement and
demanded more compensation, he said.
"They rallied at the company's gate late
yesterday afternoon and were soon joined by their co-workers," said a witness on
condition of anonymity.
About 1,000 police and security guards were called in
to disperse the crowd. This infuriated the protestors, who overturned a police
vehicle, smashed at least four police motorbikes and broke windows and computers
in the company's office building, said the witness and a spokesman with the
township public security bureau.
Witnesses said at least five workers were
injured. This figure has not been confirmed by police.
The violence had
stopped by this morning but dozens of workers remained at the facility demanding
compensation, Xinhua reporters at the site reported.
The company's managers
fled their offices last night and as of 10 am today, no one was available for
comment.
The workers claimed their employer, a Hong Kong-invested firm that
produces toys for several major international brands, was trying to evade its
obligations under China's labor contract law, which came into effect early this
year.
The new law requires employers to sign unlimited-term contracts with
employees who have worked for more than 10 years. Some employers, however,
believe such contracts will be a burden.
Liu Xiyuan from the central province
of Hunan, who has been working at Kaida for 21 years, said he turned down
compensation equivalent to eight months' wages when his contract expired on Nov.
19. "If I had accepted the compensation, it would have meant all my 21 years of
work wouldn't count," said Liu, 45.
One worker, who refused to give his name,
said he accepted 4,000 yuan in compensation to have his seven years of work
written off.
Kaida, which employs 8,000 people, terminated contracts with 380
workers on Nov. 19. Another 216 contracts were scheduled to be terminated
today.
Xinhua
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