The body searches were allegedly conducted by managerial staff of Bao Yang Industrial who believed the 56 employees concerned were stealing wig materials on July 30. However, it is claimed that not a single hair was found on those concerned.

The employees have demanded that the factory pay 30,000 yuan (US$3,600) to each of them in compensation and make a public apology.

Shenzhen’s Kengzi Court has accepted the case and summoned the factory to answer the accusation within 15 days unless the employees drop the charge.

Shenzhen municipal government has said the relevant departments will thoroughly investigate the incident and deal with it accordingly.

But the factory’s South Korean owners have denied the body search claims.

“You know, every factory will conduct regular checks in case workshop stealing occurs and we made checks, not body searches,” a Korean executive manager, who identified himself as Lee.

Lee said yesterday that his boss was not available for interview because it was Sunday.

He said the factory’s managerial staff “made checks” on around 10 female employees, not 56.

He said his factory is seeking ways to solve the problem without court action.

“The demanded compensation is too high, and we are trying to solve the protest by negotiation," Lee said.

The factory’s staff on duty yesterday said the checks could possibly have been a “body search.”

“I’m not a witness and just heard about it,” said Jin Yonghe, a Chinese member of staff at the factory.

“The employees received the checks and took off their clothes willingly,” Jin said.

Jin said the court action threat was just indirectly caused by the “check”.

“The employees were irritated by the checks and asked to leave but the factory wanted to deduct a week’s wages,” Jin said.

“At this time, they couldn’t bear any more and sued,” Jin said.

(China Daily 08/06/2001)