Nearly 100 workers at a garment factory in Panyu, Guangdong, staged a sit-in on 21 December, protesting wage arrears and unpaid social insurance contributions. Workers claimed that Hong Kong-owned, Bogart Lingerie Ltd., which specialized in producing sportswear and underwear, had violated the law by paying wages on a three-monthly basis, and had failed to pay their social insurance contributions even though the requisite amount had been deducted from their salary.

The management took a hard line and ignored the protest, and even refused to pay workers’ wages in arrears if they resigned. The workers filed a complaint with the labour bureau but did not receive any response. Meanwhile, management lowered the piece rate, reducing workers’ income even more.