[English translation provided by China Labor Watch]

China: Worker exposes wage arrears and unfair labour practices for work in Indonesia to media

Hazardous work and owed wages: A Chinese man describes experiences in Indonesia

Story highlighted by a mandarin source: A 55-year-old man from Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, shared his troubling experience working abroad in Indonesia. Introduced to a job by an acquaintance, he was promised a role in steel structure installation but instead found himself involved in the hazardous task of dismantling an old steel plant. Despite working under grueling conditions for several months, he is still owed over 10,000 CNY (approximately $1,500 USD) in unpaid wages.

In June 2024, Mr. Jia was recruited by a labor intermediary for a job abroad. The intermediary promised a steel structure installation role under a 24-month contract, with a service fee of 9,000 CNY (roughly $1,250 USD) and a 3,000 CNY (about $420 USD) deposit. His first month's salary was to be deducted from this deposit, which was also to cover provisions for labor protection gear. Upon arriving at an industrial park in Indonesia, Mr. Jia discovered that the work was not steel structure installation but dismantling an old steel plant. The work was hazardous, dusty, and no protective gear was provided. A labor contract was never signed.

Upon arrival, Mr. Jia was also told that the person in charge would be holding onto his passport. To return to China, he was informed he would need to pay 15,000 CNY (around $2,100 USD) to get it back. At the worksite, Mr. Jia discovered that several of his coworkers had not been paid for up to three months.

Mr. Jia worked across various sites from his arrival on July 28, 2024, until his return to China early this year. After returning, he contacted the intermediary company multiple times to demand the payment he was owed. However, despite multiple complaints, he only received 1,000 CNY (about $140 USD) and is still owed 1,000 CNY (around $140 USD) of his deposit and 12,500 CNY (approximately $1,750 USD) in unpaid labor fees.