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Posted on 03/28/2008 7:49:48 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
(HARTFORD, Connecticut) -- A new report says a Chinese factory that makes light bulbs for General Electric Co. subjects many of its employees to 64-hour work weeks and toxic mercury used in the production process.
The report by Cleveland-based Policy Matters Ohio accuses Xiamen Topstar Lighting Co. Ltd., a joint venture of Topstar in China and GE, of violating China's labor laws and GE's corporate policies.
GE officials said they were surprised by the allegations, because they "contradict our rigorous supplier criteria and findings of our reviews at this site," said Kim Freeman, a spokeswoman for GE Consumer & Industrial in Louisville, Kentucky, a subsidiary of Fairfield-based GE.
The company said it could not comment on the report's validity but it would investigate the claims.
A GE safety and labor audit of the factory six months ago met GE's standards, Freeman said.
Xiamen Topstar, based in Xiamen, a city in Fujian Province, employs about 6,000 people and makes compact fluorescent light bulbs, which have been touted for their energy efficiency.
The director of administration at Topstar Lighting dismissed the report's allegations, saying the factory strictly followed labor laws on matters such as working hours and overtime compensation. The small number of workers who are exposed to mercury wear protective clothing and masks, he said.
"The report by Policy Matters Ohio is intended to be malicious and hurtful," said the director, surnamed Zhu, who refused to give his full name as is common among Chinese. He angrily refused to answer further questions.
Policy Matters Ohio said workers it interviewed last year were exhausted by the long hours and many had no idea they were working with mercury, which can damage the brain, heart, kidneys and other organs of people of all ages.
In addition to the long hours, workers did not......
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
I didn't think China had any labor laws.
Why does reality so surprise the elite?
But it’s OK for the US Gov’t to MANDATE that we use these little toxic bombs they make over there.
Work stations at the plant:
Tired Topstar worker takes a break:
Bulbs are sometimes handled with bare hands:
Seems like it could be workers violating policy.
I'm not discounting the alleged problems, but I have to wonder if they really are not communicating risks.
Cheers!
Who, or what, is “Policy Matters Ohio?”
Who is, “.....Zach Schiller, a research director at Policy Matters?”
Where does their funding come from?
Do they have a political agenda?
Have they published other studies we should know about?
According to Google, “PMO” receives funding from labor organizations.
So, Associated Press, is there some reason, besides political bias, that you failed to tell us about that?
It's the volume right next to 'Enviornmental Standards'.
I imagine your weekly paycheck was the equivalent of several months wages or more to one of these Chinese workers.
Probably. But per-hour, it was only slightly above minimum wage.
Grueling. I’ve done 80s and 90s, and it ain’t no picnic.
“Geologists are a dime a dozen...I can treat you however I want!” —verbatim quote from boss
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