In the wake of the heartbreaking story of underground brick factories involving scores of child slaves found in China’s Shanxi province, a similar exploitation has emerged: a corrupt cotton factory in Wuhan City, Hubei Province. In a darkened factory chamber several dark-skinned workers surrounded a large pile of contaminated cotton. Some workers lay exhaustedly on the factory’s grimy floor, their bodies covered with dark mosquitoes and flies. One of the workers raised his hand, which was dyed black from his labor, and revealed a damaged finger that had been cut off by a machine.
Photos of Exploited Workers
On July 7, Wang Haofeng, a former photojournalist for a Wuhan-based newspaper known for exposing hidden crimes, found the factory by chance. At his own risk, Wang snuck into the facility and shot some breathtaking photos that he later posted on his own personal web page—Wang Haofeng’s “Focus.” In his posting Wang included a call to save these exploited workers.
According to the Information Times , Wang revealed that the media actually exposed this factory in 2001. At that time the factory was accused of employing underage children who were tortured and denied pay. The story broke when the children escaped and the local government in Wuhan fined and condemned the facility. But despite media exposure and police intervention, the factory soon resumed its old ways, and has secretly remained in operation until now.
