Chinese Workers 14 - 07 - 06

 

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE, GARMENT AND LEATHER WORKERS' FEDERATION

For immediate release: July 10, 2006

Bossini and Carters' Asked to Intervene to Protect Rights of Chinese Workers

The King Fung factory in Guangdong, China, has been asked to pay compensation and other legally-entitled benefits to workers who have been left redundant as a result of the company's move from Shenzhen to Zhuhai, one hundred miles away.

Neil Kearney, General Secretary of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation, says that King Fung's behaviour is appalling and represents a flagrant breach of national laws and internationally standards.

Says Mr. Kearney: "When King Fung decided to relocate its factory, it forced the workers to sign letters of resignation prior to the move. The company threatened that if they did not, the company would hinder access to their social insurance account as well as refuse to pay stipends in arrears. The company then tried to force them to sign a new contract in which they would be awarded meager compensation but would lose their seniority.

" The workers refused to accept such poor conditions and delivered a joint letter to the management asking to be considered redundant and demanding compensation for dismissal, payment of overtime wages covering the last two months and payment of social insurance benefits. The management however rejected this proposal and refused to communicate with the workers. At this time the factory started moving the machines to Zhuhai.

" In the current situation the workers of the King Fung factory in Shenzhen are now redundant but they have not received compensation, nor have they received their overtime payments or benefits".

The ITGLWF has asked King Fung's customers to make approaches to the company in order to ensure that the rights of King Fung workers are protected.