Hunan Worker Compensated After Group Protest
2009-11-4 10:16
A 19-year-old construction worker, Wang Cao, was severely injured in an accident at his workplace on September 4th.
He was working on a water park reconstruction project for Tianjin City authorities. Wang’s left Achilles tendon was completely torn and he’s permanently disabled. Doctors say he can't work for two years. But Wang’s contractor only gave him $2,000 U.S. dollars for medical fees.
Wang tried to seek compensation from various authorities—without success.
But on October 29th Wang and dozens of fellow workers staged a protest at the Tianjin Water Park Reconstruction Engineering Management Office. They threatened to cut off the local highway.
[Wang Cao’s Colleague]:
"In the beginning they just ignored us, and told the injured worker to go back to his hometown. They said, 'We're not scared if you sue us.' They wouldn’t pay for medical fees or for medication. Nobody cared. Afterwards the workers united and were going to block the Tianjin highway. The Tianjin government feared a mass incident, so they gave in.”
The management office eventually agreed to pay Wang $17,500 U.S. dollars in compensation.
[Mr. Luo, Rights Activist]:
“I believe the rights of rural workers in China are not guaranteed. Only by coming together will there be results. It is no use in China to just pursue legal methods.”
Beijing lawyer Zhang Chenmao says Wang’s case is an example for future workers wanting to assert their rights.
