Current criminalization of worker representatives, human rights activists and feminists. How workers in China struggle for their rights. With Sheung So, LESN (Hong Kong)

Presentation by Sheung So, workers’ rights expert from the NGO LESN (Labor Education and Service Network), Hong Kong.

Followed by open discussion, moderated by taz-editor Sven Hansen

China has become known as the world’s factory. Thousands of factories, employing millions of workers, are churning out all kinds of products at an incredibly high pace. Over the last years, numerous research reports have also drawn the world’s attention to gross labour violations in this sector.

At the same time the number of strikes has hiked significantly in China in recent years. They frequently take place in the Pearl River Delta, an area which is famous for its electronics, garments and shoe industry with export oriented global players. To lure the large-scale companies into complying their land seizures plans and to help medium- and small-scale enterprises to avoid their legal responsibilities to workers, local governments use their legislative, public security and labor authorities to suppress workers.

Sheung So will report about current worker struggles in China, the role of labour law and unions in China and obstacles and criminalization worker representatives and human rights activists have to face. So is worker rights expert and senior trainer at LESN and an expert on the electronics industry, having worked with electronics brands and assembly factories since 2009 to promote labour rights compliance. She serves as President of the Board of Trustees of Electronics Watch. The Labor Education and Service Network (LESN) is a 14-year old independent NGO in Hong Kong, providing labour services and labour rights education in mainland China. LESN’s activities include direct labor services and labour education programs in the Pearl River Delta and Central China. Through working with various local partners, legal consultation and assistances are provided to manufacturing workers and work injury and occupational disease victims.

The even tis co-hosted by WEED and the Forum Umwelt & Entwicklung.