Home / Government / Focus News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Summer Campaign Planned Against Illegal Labor
Adjust font size:

China will launch a nationwide crackdown on illegal labor practices from July to August, focusing on small brick kilns, coal mines, and workshops, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security said on Wednesday.

The two-month crackdown comes as the issue of forced labor at brick kilns in northern Shanxi Province shocked the country.

Investigations into slavery and forced labor will be another focus of the campaign.

Necessary medical care and compensation should be given to the rescued slave laborers, the notice said, noting that any government officials involved in forced labor scandals would be punished severely.

A total of 359 people, including 12 children, have been rescued from illegal brick kilns in Shanxi Province, the joint investigation group announced last Friday.

Liu Jinguo, vice minister of Public Security, said at the meeting that the ministry will further investigate into forced labor by checking the registrations of migrant workers in small brick kilns, coal mines, and workshops in the countryside.

"More efforts will be made to crack down on illegal labor agencies and foremen to curb the use of forced labor," Liu said, adding that the ministry will post a phone number and e-mail address to receive illegal labor information.

By June 18, Chinese police have detained 168 people accused of holding workers in slavery under appalling conditions at small brick kilns and mines in Shanxi and central Henan provinces.

The use of slave workers hit the headlines after a "call-for-help" letter was posted on the Web earlier this month by more than 400 parents in Henan who believed their missing children had been sold to the small brick kilns as slave workers.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous
China Archives
Related >>
- 359 Workers Rescued from Illegal Brick Kilns in Shanxi
- Civil Servants Probed for 'Slave' Scandal
- Shanxi Scandal Gives Urgency to Draft Labor Contract Law
- Brick Kilns Destroying Huge Tracts of Land
- Officials to Supervise Crackdown on Labor Abuse
Most Viewed >>
Questions and Answers More
Q: What kind of law is there in place to protect pandas?
A: In order to put the protection of giant pandas and other wildlife under the law, the Chinese government put the protection of rare animals and plants into the Constitution.
Useful Info
- Who's Who in China's Leadership
- State Structure
- China's Political System
- China's Legislative System
- China's Judicial System
- Mapping out 11th Five-Year Guidelines
Links
- Chinese Embassies
- International Department, Central Committee of CPC
- State Organs Work Committee of CPC
- United Front Work Department, Central Committee of CPC