Six women workers are suing the owner of a Hong Kong-funded diamond factory in South China's Guangdong Province after they were allegedly subjected to an illegal strip search earlier this month.
They vowed to get compensation from the Yongzhao Diamond Factory in Conghua, a city near the provincial capital Guangzhou, for what they claim happened on August 6, when they were forced to strip off their clothes to be searched for a lost package of four unpolished diamonds.
The diamonds were worth 400 yuan (US$50) altogether.
Ninty-seven other workers in the factory were also allegedly searched, including at least 80 women workers.
Sun Wanneng, the factory administrator who ordered the alleged body search, has been detained by the local public security office. Seven other factory officials have been released on bail.
Wang Xihong, an alleged victim from Central China's Hubei Province and one of those who is suing, described the incident as a nightmare that still haunted her.
She claimed that she and her workmates were not allowed to leave the factory that day and they were placed under surveillance even when they went to the toilet.
When the first round of body searches found nothing, all 103 workers were forced to take off their clothes to undergo a second search while naked, Wang claimed.
"If we had dared to protest, we would not have been allowed to walk out of the factory," Wang said.
Wang added that she felt her dignity had been violated.
They were allowed to leave the factory only at 9 pm, four hours later than their usual finishing time, though the missing diamonds had still not been found at that time, Wang claimed.
Some workers filed complaints with the local trade union, the women's federation and other labour protection authorities. The factory then allegedly paid each worker who had been searched 1,000 yuan (US$120) in compensation.
However, Fang Xiaorong, Hu Ai'e, Li Shengying, Wang Jun, Wang Xihong and Wu Hongyang - the six who are suing the factory - declined. They said 1,000 yuan was not enough to compensate them for what they claimed they had suffered.
Ye Guoyao, vice-chairman of the Trade Union of Guangzhou, said workers' rights and interests can be better protected by the setting-up of trade union branches in non-State enterprises.
(China Daily August 30, 2002)
