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Article

1 May 2008

Author:
Today Programme, BBC Radio 4

[audio] The hidden desperate lives of Chinese migrant workers in Britain

A new book is published today about the desperate lives of some Chinese migrant workers in Britain…The book is called ‘Chinese Whispers’ and it’s by the journalist Hsiao-Hung Pai…Hsiao-Hung Pai: “I did witness an underground world of exploitation where migrant workers…are systematically abused by their gangmasters or labour providers and are subjected to under minimum conditions and wages. They enjoy no employment rights and have no protection at work, no health and safety…The most tragic example was the death of a worker…[who] died over-working in an electronic manufacturing plant supplying Samsung…He was working non-stop 12 hour shifts for two or three shifts in a row, and in the end he eventually collapsed and died…” [also includes comments by Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority]