Slave labor found at China Brick Factory

BEIJING, June 8 (UPI) — Police in China raided a brickwork factory to rescue 31 workers who were being held as virtual slaves by the company.Authorities say some of the workers were so traumatized by the experience that they were unable to remember their names, The BBC reports.

The workers had burns over their bodies from being forced to carry bricks that had not cooled.

Located in a poor rural province, the factory was owned by the son of the local Communist Party secretary.

The factory owner and several others have been arrested.

According to Chinese newspapers, the workers were forced to work 20 hours a day without pay and given only bread and water to eat.

One man was reportedly beaten to death with a hammer because he didn’t work fast enough.

China has millions of migrants who often have to endure harsh conditions and low pay to find work.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/06/08/slave_labor_found_at_china_brick_factory/3300/