Inside China Today

Layed-off employees detained

This report is brought to you Lin Li and Xin Gang of the SOH Radio Network

Media reports from July 2nd revealed that Li Zhimin and four others were arrested in Zhongnanhai, Beijing for appealing to the government. They were appealing over lay-offs at Henan’s Nanyang Oilfield Company at the end of May. They’re currently detained at the Nanyang Appeals Office and local media reported that they were appealing illegally. Because they are refusing to renounce or apologise for their actions, they continue to be detained.

Li Zhimin told reporters that they arrived in Beijing on May 26th. They went to submit their appeal materials to the Appeals Letter Box in Zhongnanhai. They were stopped by a police officer. They were taken to the Fuyou Street police station for interrogation and were returned to Henan’s Xinyang Appeals Office. Zhimin said the Nanyang Oilfield Company actually sent representatives to persuade them to write renouncement letters and to pay the fine to be released. They refused because they felt their appeal was legitimate.

Zhimin explained that many workers had their employment contracts suddenly ended in 2001. He claims they were tricked into accepting their dismissals with little to no compensation. Many former employees have struggled since their dismissals. They have difficulties affording basic goods and some continue to pay a compulsory five thousand Yuan annual health insurance and pension fees. Some former employees have committed suicide. Zhimin says they have appealed in Beijing at least ten times since the 2003.

Another former employee from Nanyang Oilfield Company Peng Jun said the company has adopted policies to pressure and force petitioning employees to disperse. He says the Nanyang Company claims that the appeals are illegal and insincere. They expose their personal details, including names, addresses and other private information on television repeatedly. This has caused immense pressures on their families.

Qiu Yonghui a layed-off employee also from the Nanyang Company revealed that over 8000 people were laid off. He said that after Li Zhimin and the others were taken to the police station. They were sent to Majialou detention centre and are not able to leave.

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