Follow-up on the Shenzhen Golf Club caddies’ rights defense: On September 16–17, employees of the club continued their sit-in protest at the course, but no progress has been made so far. The club’s management has also continued to pressure and entice employees into signing unreasonable compensation agreements.
“Villagers in Loudi, Hunan Suppressed for Protesting Environmental Damage by Coal Mine” On September 17, in Tangwanli Village, Anping Town, Lianyuan City, Loudi, Hunan, villagers protesting environmental destruction caused by the Toushi Coal Mine were suppressed by large numbers of police and government personnel, with many detained. According to villagers, the Toushi open-pit coal mine, established in 2006, has since caused severe damage to surrounding mountains, farmland, and drinking water sources. Although villagers have staged countless protests over the past two decades, the mine continues to operate with the protection and indulgence of local authorities. During this time, the coal mine has repeatedly hired thugs to threaten and intimidate rights-defending villagers, leaving dozens injured or permanently disabled.
Follow-up on the Anjie Technology workers’ wage dispute in Dongguan, Guangdong: On September 17, after half a month of protests, the workers received two-thirds of their unpaid wages.
From September 15 to 17, in Yanggu County, Liaocheng, Shandong, workers of Shandong Zhongtian Steel Structure Construction Co., Ltd. gathered for three consecutive days to protest against the Liaocheng Intermediate People’s Court, the Yanggu County Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, and the Yanggu County Notary Office for colluding to auction off the company’s assets—worth over 100 million yuan—for only 20 million yuan, while refusing to pay workers’ wages.
A female student at Pengshui Middle School in Chongqing committed suicide by jumping into a river after being punished to stand by her teacher. The school has refused to take any responsibility. On September 16, the student’s family held a banner at the school gate to demand accountability, drawing a large crowd of onlookers. According to the family, two student suicides have occurred at Pengshui Middle School within just eight days.
“Hundreds of Workers Strike at Taiwanese Nike Supplier in Huizhou to Resist Relocation Without Compensation” On September 16, in Boluo County, Huizhou, Guangdong, hundreds of workers at the Taiwanese-owned Longfa Shoes Huizhou factory (Longyu Shoe Factory) went on strike to protest the company’s decision to close the plant without offering compensation, instead forcing workers to be merged into its Dongguan factory. Public records show that Longfa Shoes (Huizhou) Co., Ltd. is a well-known international footwear manufacturer, with close contract manufacturing ties to brands such as NIKE.
On September 16, in Baoqian Village, Jiushuo Town, Ledong County, Hainan, the local authorities deployed a large number of police to forcibly seize farmland for the construction of a high-speed rail station, sparking intense clashes with villagers. According to eyewitnesses, villagers fought back with stones, which “came flying out like rain, pattering down.”
“Hundreds of Golf Caddies in Shenzhen Strike for Compensation, Guests Join in with Songs” From September 14 to 15, hundreds of golf caddies in Shenzhen, Guangdong, staged a strike demanding reasonable compensation from the soon-to-be-closed Shenzhen Golf Club. During the strike, many golf course guests brought supplies to support the caddies, and some even sang on-site to cheer them on. According to the workers, club management had threatened to blacklist them in the golf industry, attempting to pressure them into signing unfair agreements. Public records show that the Shenzhen Golf Club, the city’s first golf course with a history of 40 years, will officially cease operations on September 20 after its land lease expired and was reclaimed by the government.
Follow-up on the Shenzhen golf caddies’ strike: On September 20, the employees of a golf club in Shenzhen, Guangdong, reached an agreement with the club. The club will compensate employees according to the “N+1” standard, with most employees receiving around 13,000 RMB per year of service. Note: Since the employees have no base salary, “N” is calculated based on the average monthly tips over the past year, which results in significant income differences among employees.