‘China clashes with Zimbabwean unions over 'systematic abuse' 8 July 2021

Chinese diplomats are embroiled in a vicious war of words with Zimbabwe’s labour unions over allegations that businesspeople from the Asian country are abusing their local employees. Over the years, China has seen its influence on the Zimbabwean economy grow with investments in mining and construction projects, but the companies are routinely accused of ill-treating their workers. Unions say the Zimbabwean government often looks the other way when they report Chinese employers for violation of labour laws.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the largest labour centre representing private sector employees, recently torched a storm when it used social media to expose what it described as “slave-like working conditions” at a Chinese owned tile manufacturing factory on the outskirts of Harare. ZCTU claimed Sunny Yi Feng workers were being given salaries that were below the minimum wage and were forced to stay in overcrowded accommodation where they were exposed to dangerous chemicals. Unionists claimed some workers had even died at the factory and their deaths were concealed by the Chinese.

The Chinese embassy in Harare, however, reacted angrily to the accusations and warned they might damage relations with Zimbabwe. “Recently, some have made a series of accusations on social media against Chinese enterprises in Zimbabwe by circulating some unidentified video clips,” the embassy said in an uncharacteristically hard-hitting statement. “All these accusations ultimately target China-Zimbabwe cooperation and China’s foreign policy towards Zimbabwe,” it added. “Obviously, this is an organised and systematic smear campaign against China.” The diplomatic mission insisted that the Chinese government always ensured that companies owned by its nationals complied with laws and regulations of host countries.