Keeping Labor Costs Down, People’s Republic of China-style

china_labor_letter_photo

Using slave labor can significantly reduce indirect costs to manufacture.  Any economist will tell you.  Prisoners of a still-repressive Communist Chinese regime have no FLSA, no medical care, no grievance policy.  They do have a labor union, though.  Alas, controlled by Beijing.   Doubt there is much help from that quarter.

“If you occasionally buy this product, please kindly resend this letter to the World Human Right Organization,” the unsigned letter read. “Thousands people here who are under the persicution [sic] of the Chinese Communist Party Government will thank and remember you forever.”

The writer said the product was made in Masanjia Labor Camp in Shenyang, China, where laborers work for 15 hours a day without time off on the weekends and holidays, making only 10 yuan ($1.61) per month.

Common “wisdom” is to refer to the PRC as having a capitalist economy and communist government.  With the great majority of important industrial activity taking place in state-owned enterprises, and with a seemingly grim confirmation of rumors of a slave-labor work force, such “wisdom” should be questioned thoroughly.
Some would probably ask what the complaining is all about.  Why those ingrates in Unit 8, Department 2 have housing and food provided by a benevolent government, and should consider that to be compensation in lieu of pay!  In fact, it seems to be a great idea for a business model!    If only such a workers’ paradise were possible here….