Worker Empowerment

Updates on the Violent Attack to HuangDagongzhe Centre Relocated and Returns to Routine Operation

Half year after the horrible attacks to Huang Qing-nan and the Shenzhen Dagongzhe Migrant Worker Centre (hereafter DGZ Centre), which is the close partner of Worker Empowerment (hereafter WE), WE will be in full support to its programmes, and striving for a return to the track and sound protection to the grassroot NGOs in China, join hands with the Centre and workers.

The Arrested Five Suspects Had Not Yet be Prosuceted, Continuous Effort is Needed for an Equitable Sentence

Huang Qing-nan was clasified as “serious injury” after the appeal to the Judiciary Department in April. The lawyer expected the prosecution would be processed in May or June. However, Huang has yet received any notice. The attack to Huang and the DGZ Centre is a serious threat to the local grassroot labour NGOs in China, and we believe that an equitable sentence should be ordered, so as to send out a warning to any animosity towards labour groups and prevent any similar incident again. (from happening again) International concern and support is proved helpful and we will continuous to update the international civil society for the progress.

Furthermore, Huang’s occupational injury status is turned down. The Shenzhen Labour and Social Securities Department determines that his injury was out of the jurisdiction of the DGZ Centre’s registration. Huang will soon launch an administrative litigation to flight for a fair justisification.

WE, at the same time, has assisted Huang in seeking for medical opinion on any useful treatments to his leg in Hong Kong. However, according to the doctor and physiotherapist, any further operation will be too risky and not worthy to him. Instead of operation, Huang received a one-month rehabilitation treatment in Songhua, Guangzhou in late April.

“I am suffered from seriuos pressure!” the Landlord told

At the Mid-March 2008, the DGZ Centre was shocked by the notice of the Landlord, he told that the rent contract will not be continued after this term expired.. He told anxiously that, “I am suffered from serious pressure!” and refused to explain the reason behind clearly. After one month of negotiation, and seeking for help from local union, the Landlord insisted his decision. DGZ Centre, had no alternative, but forced to move.

In May, the DGZ Centre was relocated to another industrial area, and has been returning to normal. It opens daily with 10 hours of services, including labour dispute consultation and different kinds of services and activities to the workers. The target of the Centre and WE in the near future is to re-build the Centre toward a mission of a worker-run organization for the labour rights and dignity.

Recent Activities of DGZ Centre

On the other hand, the DGZ Centre and WE had conducted an action research on Labour Contract Law with questionnaires and indepth interviews of Shenzhen workers. It aims to reflect the actual situation and problems faced by the workers after the Law came to effective on 1 Jan 2008. The research report has been sent to the government bodies together with the response to the open consultation of Labour Contract Law Implementation Ordinance. The report was also sent to labour concerned organizations in Shenzhen and Hong Kong as well. English version will be released by WE in the near future, please contact Suzanne Wu by workerempowerment@gmail.com for details or if you want a report copy.

25th February, 2008.

Dear friends and groups all over the world,

Warm greeting from Shenzhen!

Since the violent attacks that targeted the Dagongzhe Migrant Worker Centre and me on October and November last year, we have gained a lot of support from friends and groups all over the world. We are so grateful to have your support in condemning the violent attacks, endorsing the statement, writing letters, donating to and visiting me. All of the solidarity has made it possible for DGZ Centre and me to pass the difficult period.

I have been discharged from the hospital since 10th January 2008, and most of the wounds have healed over; however, I still need to receive rehabilitation treatment for the left leg that had been injured most seriously. I have to rely on a walking stick, and cannot walk too long. If my physical condition allows, I may have another operation three months later.

In February 2008, the police announced that the case was solved, and five suspects were arrested and detained. The police claimed that the one who manipulated the attacks was a landlord, motivated by the loss of rent after a factory closure. However, the police also have claimed that this case is related to labour disputes. We hope that the police can provide more detailed information about the case. Meanwhile, we are very disappointed that the Shenzhen Municipal Government has never publicly condemned these serious violent attacks to labour organization and workers.

Since Chinese New Year, the DGZ Centre has re-opened with hours from 12:00 to 18:00 every day, to provide assistance to the workers. Unfortunately, part of the work of the DGZ Centre cannot be re-launched yet, such as the outreach labour law education, under the threat of violent attacks.

After these violent attacks, many friends have expressed concern about the future of DGZ Centre and me. First of all, I will definitely keep my commitment to be the registered person of the Centre, and the DGZ Centre will rejuvenate and struggle to the very end for workers’ rights.

Once again, please accept our heartfelt thanks to you!

In Soildarity,

Huang Qing-nan, and Staff of Dagongzhe Migrant Worker Centre

Written in Chinese and translated by Worker Empowerment

Condemnation against continued violence directed at a Shenzhen labour group:A joint statement from Hong Kong & International civil organizations

In the recent weeks, we, a group of Hong Kong groups and unions who cover labour issues in

China have learned of a series of violent attacks on a labour group and its legal person in Shenzhen. We are very upset, concerned and enraged about the recent development.  The Shenzhen Dagongzhe Migrant Worker Centre (DGZ Centre) has been long supported by the general public and

Hong Kong groups. It provides a free library, labour law education and free legal consultation to migrant workers in Shenzhen. In recent months, it has been involved in promoting knowledge around the “Labour Contract Law”, a new law the national government is introducing to help safeguard workers; and it has provided legal advice in order to de-fuse the current growing tension between employers and workers.  On 11 Oct and 14 Nov 2007, a group of unknown and unidentified people came to destroy the properties of DGZ Centre. On 20 Nov, the legal person of the centre, Huang Qingnan was attacked by two people with choppers, on the way to visit a injured worker, just after he left the centre. Huang is seriously injured. In recent months, workers reported they had also been assaulted and verbally threatened by their employers when claiming their wages. Reports to the police have not met with success or interest. They were disappointed that the local government was behaving very indifferently.  The attacks on the centre and Mr. Huang prove that interest groups which are trying to paralyze the implementation of this law, distorting the central governments labour policies and revealing openly their dislike of independent labour organizations. If the DGZ Centre’s case is not properly followed up and no proper investigation is undertaken, it will give a regrettable and worrying message that violent prevails. Civil groups in Shenzhen and also other parts of

China would face more assaults and their development could be limited. Although we are in based

Hong Kong, we care for

China’s development and we work for the education and welfare of Chinese workers. In order to develop a harmonious society, fairness and justice must be safeguarded. Therefore, the case of DGZ centre must be resolved and the safety of civil groups in

China must be guaranteed.  We demand that the Central government & the Shenzhen city government: l             Openly condemns & investigates all violent incidents, and in particular the attack on Huang Qingnan; 

l             Helps DGZ Centre to re-start its works and provides Huang Qingnan with appropriate medical treatment and rehabilitation;

 l             Implements the national policy to maintain a harmonious labour relations, improves the protection of civil groups and their staff in order to prevent violent acts and maintain public security.

Initiated by: Worker Empowerment; Globalisation Monitor; Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM); Labour Action

China;

Asia Monitor Resources CentreSupported and cosigned by:

1.           ITUC/GUF/HKCTU/HKTUC Hong Kong Liaison Office

2.           Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions

3.           Cleaning Workers Union

4.           Hong Kong Women Workers’ Association

5.       The Chinese University Of Hong Kong Employees General Union

6.           Catering And Hotels Industries Employees General Union

7.           Clothing Industry, Clerical and Retail Trade Employees General Union

8.           Hong Kong Catholic Institution Staff Association

9.           Rights Workers Trade Union Hong Kong

10.       Cleaning Service Industry Workers Union

11.       Union Of Hong Kong Dockers

12.       Hong Kong Dumper Truck Drivers Association

13.       Concrete Industry Workers Union

14.       The Federation Of Hong Kong Transport Worker Organizations

15.       Ocean Park Employees Union

16.       Construction Site Workers General Union

17.       Hong Kong Domestic Workers General Union

18.       Community Care and Nursing Home Workers General Union

19.       Hong Kong School Clerks & Janitors General Union

20.       Government Mod 1 Staff General Union

21.       Industrial Relationships Institutes

22.       Catholic Diocese of HK Diocesan Pastoral Centre for the Worker (Chai Wan)

23.       Grassroots Development Centre

24.       Elderly Right Development Society

25.       Student Christian Movement of Hong Kong

26.       Tiananmen Mothers Campaign

27.       Justice and Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese

28.       People Demo

29.       Local Action

30.       Ziteng

31.       Community Cultural Concern

32.       Neighbourhood & Worker’s Service Centre  International groups/individuals：1.           International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC (International)2.           War On Wants (International)

3.           Committee of Asian Women, CAW (International)

4.           The Transnational Information Exchange, TIE Asia (International)

5.           Clean Clothes Campaign, CCC (International)

6.           Karat Coalition (Europe)

 7.           New Trade Union Initiative, NTUI (India)

8.           Jobs with Justice (India)

9.           Thai Centre of Labour Solidarity, TCLS (Thailand)

10.       Rick Kuhn-Reader in Political Science, Australian National University Workplace delegate, National Tertiary Education Union (Australia)

11.       Clean Clothes Campaign Denmark (Denmark)

12.       Christliche Initiative Romero (Germany)

13.       Rena Kläder (Sweden)

14.       Clean Clothes Campaign Sweden (Sweden)

15.       Labour Behind the Label (United Kingdom)

16.       The National Association of Human Resources Specialists, AUR (Romenia)

17.       Clean Clothes Campaign France (France)

18.       Peuples Solidaires (France)

19.       Workers Initiative Poland  (Poland)

20.       United Students Against Sweatshops, USAS (USA)

21.       Sweat Free Communities (USA)

22.       Maquila Solidarity Network, Toronto, (Canada)

23.       Lesotho Clothing and Allied Workers Union , LECAWU (Lesotho)

24.       Labour Research Service (South Africa)

25.       Commission Travail de l’ATFD (Tunesia)

26.       Organización de Mujeres Salvadoreñas, ORMUSA (El Salvador)

27.       CONCERTACIÓN POR UN EMPLEO DIGNO EN LA MAQUILA ,CEDM  (El Salvador)

28.       Honduran Independent Monitoring Team, EMIH (Honduras)

29.       The Maria Elana Cuadra Movement of Working and Unemployed Women, MEC (Nicaragua)

30.       Jonathan Unger

31.       Ron Avila

32.       Ralph Gayton

33.       Andrew Stevens

34.       David Paul Xavier Burch

35.       Allison Chan36.       Diana Covell

37.       Sebastian Cobarrubias

38.       Robert Periano

39.       Kevin J. O’Rourke

40.       rosie wagstaff

41.       Sten-Olof Svensson

42.       Gisela Neunhoeffer

43.       Joost Vandeputte

44.       Mit freundlichen Grüßen

45.       David Hutchison

46.      Agnes Ku