General Electric Co said yesterday that Xiamen-based Topstar, a Chinese light bulb manufacturer in which GE has a minority interest, neither violated China's labor laws nor endangered workers' health in its production process.

GE made the comments after a 10-day investigation of a report by Cleveland-based nonprofit organization Policy Matters Ohio that said Topstar subjected many employees to 64-hour workweeks and toxic mercury used in production.

Policy Matters Ohio's report was "inaccurate and incomplete", and harmed GE's and Topstar's reputations, GE said.

The US conglomerate also said labor security has always topped its agenda and is a concept it will continue to promote with Topstar.

You Kunpin, head of communications for the Xiamen trade union, told China Daily yesterday Topstar has cooperated with the union, and GE might release a detailed investigation report.

Topstar employs about 6,000 people and makes compact fluorescent light bulbs.

"We strictly follow the national labor law in arranging employees' shifts," Zhu Conghua, a human resources officer with Topstar, said yesterday.

Although Topstar asked for occasional flexibility with work shifts, every employee works only a certain number of hours a year, Zhu said.

Topstar admitted a few special workshops didn't have air conditioners due to production process requirements, and some women employees had quit because of the high temperatures, local media said.

The country has urged all companies, including joint ventures, to improve their protection of workers' rights.

The All China Federation of Trade Unions criticized two companies - mobile equipment manufacturer Huawei Technology and retail giant Wal-Mart - for trying to dodge the new Labor Contract Law before it took effect on Jan 1.

(China Daily April 11, 2008)