Asia-Pacific News

Hundreds of children forced into factory work in southern China

Apr 30, 2008, 7:17 GMT

Beijing - Hundreds of children have been forced to work in factories in southern China for low wages and long hours, Chinese newspaper reports said Wednesday.

Authorities are trying to find and free them while also arresting the people involved in the labour rings that lured them to the industrial cities of Dongguan, Shenzhen and Huizhou.

More than 1,000 children ages 9 to 16 from poor families primarily from the Liangshhan region of the south-western province of Sichuan were coerced into working for wages ranging from 2.5 to 3.8 yuan (36 to 54 cents) per hour, the reports said.

An underground organization recruited the children through their impoverished families and brought the minors to the Pearl River Delta cities, forcing them to work in factories itself or through employment agencies, authorities said.

In Shipai town in Dongguan, authorities had freed more than 100 children, the China Daily said, citing a local government spokesman, while the Nanfang Dushi Bao newspaper in Guangzhou reported 167 workers had been freed.



COMMENT

blog comments powered by Disqus

Latest Headlines in Asia-Pacific

Older Talkback

Follow Us

Follow M&C on Pinterest

Search

Custom Search

Also Check Out

Peter Andre ready to move on

Peter Andre ready to move on
Peter Andre is finally ready to move on from ex-wife Katie Price and wonders if he has already met the person he is 'supposed' to marry. ... more

Prince William's tribute to role model Queen

Prince Williams tribute to role model Queen
Britain's Prince William has paid tribute to his grandmother Queen Elizabeth for being an 'incredible role model'. ... more

Mariah Carey's sister wants reconciliation

Mariah Careys sister wants reconciliation
Mariah Carey's estranged sister Alison is desperate to mend her rift with the singer and meet the star's twins Moroccan and Monroe for the first time. ... more

Robin Gibb had kidney failure

Robin Gibb had kidney failure
Robin Gibb's son RJ says the Bee Gees singer's death was caused by kidney and liver failure, ... more

Matthew Morrison's sexy meals

Matthew Morrisons sexy meals
Matthew Morrison thinks cooking is 'sexy' and loves sharing candlelit dinners with his girlfriend Renee Puente. ... more

Apl.de.Ap praises 'beautiful' Cheryl

Apl.de.Ap praises beautiful Cheryl
Black Eyed Peas star Apl.de.Ap thinks Cheryl Cole is a 'beautiful' woman. ... more

Queen Elizabeth loves to laugh with her grandkids

Queen Elizabeth loves to laugh with her grandkids
Britain's Queen Elizabeth loves to share a laugh with her grandchildren and find out about their lives outside of their royal duties. ... more

David Hasselhoff to buy bar for Hayley

David Hasselhoff to buy bar for Hayley
David Hasselhoff wants to buy his Welsh girlfriend Hayley Roberts a bar which he will call the Hoff & Hounds. ... more

Gavin Rossdale refuses to speak to ex after DNA test

Gavin Rossdale refuses to speak to ex after DNA test
Gavin Rossdale has refused to speak to Pearl Lowe since she allowed their daughter Daisy to take a DNA test which revealed he is her father. ... more

Gary Barlow's odd queen meetings

Gary Barlows odd queen meetings
Gary Barlow does find meeting Britain's Queen Elizabeth is 'really odd' because it can be 'relaxing'. ... more