Worked To Death

The next time anyone complains to you about the Federal Government's proposed new industrial relations laws - like The Labor Party who has declared war - point them to this story about the worker's rights - Woman dies after 24-hour work shift.

A 30-year-old woman died from exhaustion after working a 24-hour shift at a Chinese handicraft factory, state media reported today.

In a separate incident highlighting the poor conditions that many poor Chinese workers are forced to endure, Xinhua news agency said another six people died when an unlicensed shoe factory caught fire on yesterday.

The China Daily newspaper reported the handicraft worker, He Chunmei, fell into a coma and quickly died on Friday last week after working for 24 straight hours at the Guangzhou Huaxin Handicraft Factory in southern Guangdong province.

The paper quoted He's relatives and co-workers as saying employees had been ordered to work extra-long shifts because the factory was moving to new premises and orders had to completed.

It's hard to defend Communism when workers are treated so appallingly. A free market, free press, free people, provides the best opportunity for better working and living conditions for everyone.

-- Nora