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Foreign brands struggle in Year of the Rabbit

By Wu Nanlan: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, December 19, 2011

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Gucci: Former employees complain of unfair rules

A Gucci flagship store is seen in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 9, 2011. World luxury house Gucci raised the eyebrows in China as former employees with Gucci's Shenzhen flagship store complained about its 'unhumanitarian' work codes in an online posting, referring the luxury house as 'a sweat factory'. According to the posting published as early as September, Gucci's Shenzhen flagship store is accused to impose purported harsh regulations on worker's behaviors including prolonged and unpaid overtime, limited bathroom breaks, prohibition of having food or drinking water in the store during the rest time. Gucci has made no comment on the accusations. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) (ljh)

A Gucci flagship store is seen in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 9, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

Employees at Gucci (China)'s Shenzhen store have to ask permission from their superior before drinking water, and they cannot take more than five minutes to use the toilet, the Guangzhou-based Xinkuaibao newspaper reported on Oct. 8, 2011.

Another former employee said she had to stand for more than ten hours a day when she was working for Gucci, even during her pregnancy. She also complained that the company did not allow her to eat fruits or snacks during breaks.

Another former staff member of Gucci (China) filed a formal complaint in August, alleging that the company did not pay for overtime work.