"In June 2017, worker representatives Fu Tianbo, Ai Zhenyu and Wang Shuai were arrested by police for organizing their fellow agency workers in a months-long campaign for equal pay Ai and Wang have been released while Fu Tianbo remains in detention...Several thousand FAW-Volkswagen agency workers in China's northeast city of Changchun have been demanding equal pay since 2016. For half a year workers have conducted a highly organised campaign and met with management and government officials to settle their dispute through collective negotiations."

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited FAW and Volkswagen to respond to the allegations, response from Volkswagen included.

In Aug 2017, China Labour Bulletin issued a rejoinder that says "So far there is very little evidence to support VW’s claims that it is making every effort..." (link to download full rejoinder below). Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Volkswagen to respond to the rejoinder, Volkswagen did not provide further response.