Nearly 1,000 workers gathered at the gate of Shanlin Technology's Qiaodonghuan Road factory in Panyu District, Guangzhou City of Guangdong Province, on Sunday, demanding to talk with the head of the company about improving their benefits and work conditions.

The outdoor meeting, which continued from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, blocked traffic around the factory as the workers called for timely payment of their wages, increased overtime pay and one day off per week.

Shanlin's human resources officials were called to the factory, where they assured the workers that they would "properly handle" their problems and requested that they return to work. The workers eventually departed the area, but refused to return to work until the head of the plant responded to their demands

The officials promised to provide the workers with an answer from the top brass on Monday.

The Standard reported on November 10 that the Shanlin employees returned to work on Monday after management promised to raise overtime pay from 2 yuan (24 US cents) per hour to 3 yuan (36 US cents), to give them two days off per month and to pay their wages on time.

The company could not be reached for comment.

Shanlin Technology mainly produces household electronics goods such as televisions. Workers told the Nanfang City News that with the company's business growing and orders soaring, they have been required to put in longer and longer hours but their salaries have not increased. A number of unhappy employees have already quit.

One unidentified worker said that she was required to work from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week, with only a short break at noon. Her basic monthly salary was 400 yuan (US$48) per month and with 2 yuan (24 US cents) per hour for overtime, her total earnings averaged about 600 yuan (US$72) each month. When the workers staged their complaint last Sunday, the factory was a month behind in payment of wages.

Most employees said they would rather improve the working environment and benefits than quit their jobs. They believe that company profits must be climbing along with the increase in orders, and they want some of that profit invested back into the workers.

Article 6 of China's Constitution guarantees workers remuneration for their labor. The Labor Law reinforces this principle, requiring that employees be paid at least the minimum wage set by the state regardless of corporate profitability. It also states that they must be paid their wages on time.

The right to periods of rest is also constitutionally protected, in Article 43. The Labor Law provides more specific details, such as rights to annual paid vacations and official holidays as well as limitations on extensions of work hours. The law specifically states that workers must be given at least one day off per week.

The victory of the workers at the Shanlin Technology plant comes at a time when growing numbers of workers are becoming disgruntled with conditions in the Pearl River Delta. Living costs are high, wages low and other conditions often unattractive. Many migrant workers are moving to other areas, leaving Guangdong Province and its near neighbors facing a serious and growing labor shortage.

(China.org.cn by Chen Lin, November 10, 2004)