Following legal action, the supervisor was obliged to pay medical compensation to the two injured workers. However the two still felt they were left with no option but to resign from their jobs.
Two workers employed at the Korean-invested Qingshan Leather Company were badly beaten by a supervisor on 4 August 2003. The factory is located in Shiji town near Panyu city, Guangzhou. The incident followed a quality control problem [it was reported that the supervisor believed the two men in question had taken two defective bags out of the rejected items pile and put them into the finished quality-checked pile ready for exporting].
An officer from the foreign economic affairs office in Shiji town told us that the supervisor resorted to violence on account of quality problems with two high quality expensive leather bags.
Officer:
This factory primarily produces up-market leather goods. All the bags are exported to foreign countries, mostly Europe and the United States. The supervisor told us this morning that
that the two bags were high cost products. One bag was very expensive and there was only a small production run for the other. Delivery time was also very tight and [he said] he snapped under the pressure.
We called the Panyu Federation of Trade Unions. An official who answered the phone told us they knew nothing about the incident.
Han:
Have you heard anything about this incident?
So far, we haven't heard anything.
Han:
Nothing at all?
Cadre:
What? What are saying
?
Han:
I'm asking if the union is going to get involved in this matter?
Cadre:
Well, I think we better first find out what had happened because I am not very clear about it.
An officer from the Shiji town labour bureau said that nobody dared to intervene when the supervisor attacked the two workers.
Officer:
If the two substandard bags had been exported abroad, the company would have been penalised for poor quality. That's why the Korean guy got so angry
the Chinese
there is no way they'd dare do anything to intervene. So the supervisor beat them up.
The officer also told us that the Public Security Bureau had intervened and as a result the supervisor paid 3,500 yuan as compensation to the two workers. He also confirmed that although the enterprise was established in 1991, the owners had violated the Trade Union Law by failing to set up a trade union.
Officer:
The factory is dealing with the issue. The factory director is in Korea and the vice-director doesn't dare to do anything without his authority. The Public Security Bureau has already dealt with the violence incident and he has paid 3,500 yuan to cover the medical costs of the injured.
Han:
Did the trade union get involved at any point during this process?
Officer:
The city government sent someone over
Han:
From the trade union?
Officer:
Trade union? No, the local foreign economic affairs office sent the official.
Han:
Is there a trade union at this factory?
Officer:
Not yet.
Han:
The factory was established in 1991, is that right?
Officer:
What?
Han:
The factory was set up in 1991?
Officer:
Yes, yes
Han:
That's 12 years already and still no trade union?
Officer:
Yes!
A women Worker from the same workshop as the two beaten workers told us that the factory produces high-end leather bags for export to the US and Europe. Yet it still failed to provide workers with the benefits stipulated by the Labour Law.
Worker:
We work from 8am to 12 noon and then 1:30pm to 5 oclock and two hours overtime in the evening. We knock off at 8pm, so it's about 10 hours a day!
Han:
Do the workers get Sunday off?
Worker:
Yes, both Saturday and Sunday.
Han:
What's your basic wage?
Worker:
Based on the minimum. New workers get 450 yuan basic salary and overtime brings that up to $700-800 per month.
Han:
Are the workers covered by medical and retirement insurance?
Worker:
Once you've worked for a full calendar year, medical and social insurance kicks in.
Han:
You're saying you have to work a full year before there is any insurance cover
Worker:
Yes, you buy an annual insurance!
Han:
Then they are violating the labour law. Did you know that?
Worker:
No, I didnt know.
Han:
You dont know?
Worker:
That's right
Han:
What brands are the factory producing?
Worker:
All sorts Liz [Claiborne] and Nine West for example.
Han:
What are you producing now?
Worker:
Right now it's Liz Claiborne stuff.
Han:
How many workers are there in the factory?
Worker:
There are nearly 300 workers producing leather wallets and more than 1,000 workers on handbags. Altogether there are almost 2000 employees.
Another worker at the Qingshan factory said that although the two workers had got legal compensation, they still had no choice but to resign.
Worker:
It's affected us all. Workers here are not happy with the supervisor.
Han:
Did the workers take any action connected with the incident?
Worker:
They opted for legal redress and appealed to the relevant administrative department.
Han:
So they took legal action.
Worker:
Yes.
Han:
Did their work mates take any supportive action?
Worker:
They appealed and the other workers supported their appeal.
Han:
What is the current situation of those two assaulted workers?
Worker:
They quit.
Han:
Quit?
Worker:
Yes, after what happened they felt they couldn't stay.