China passes new labour law after slave scandal
Posted: 29 June 2007 1753 hrs

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BEIJING : China approved a new labour law Friday, state media reported, as the country reels from a slavery scandal in its industrial heartlands.

The law, which will come into effect on January 1 next year, aims to improve protection for employees' legal rights and toughen punishments for government officials who abuse their office, Xinhua news agency reported.

Officials could now face criminal prosecution for neglecting their responsibilities if it results in serious harm to workers' interests, the report said.

According to investigators, government labour monitors and police officers were actively involved in a brickyard slavery scandal, where around 400 slaves, some as young as eight, were freed from illegal businesses in northern and central China.

More than 8,000 brick kilns and small coal mines in Shanxi and in neighbouring Henan were raided during the operation in an effort to end the slave and forced labour, which has drawn worldwide condemnation.

The raids were reportedly sparked by an Internet petition posted by concerned parents earlier this month that said up to 1,000 children were languishing in the illegal firms.

Police have rescued 591 workers, some with mental disabilities, but only 51 of those were children, previous reports said, sparking a fresh appeal by parents of some 400 children still missing.

China has since launched a nationwide probe targeting the use of forced and slave labour.

During deliberations over the new bill - which was passed by the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress after its fourth reading - lawmakers lambasted officials involved in the scandal, Xinhua reported Friday. - AFP/ch