Global Times has reported the arrest of a man in Xinjiang who allegedly trafficked slave laborers, many of whom are mentally ill:
A total of 11 workers, including eight mentally disabled people, were found to be working in ap-palling conditions at the Jiaersi Green Construction Material Chemical Factory in Toksun county, the Xinjiang Metropolitan newspaper reported.
According to the report, the workers have allegedly been confined to the factory, toiling for at least three years without being paid or given any protective uniforms or equipment. And authori-ties said the workers were forced to live in shabby conditions, not given showers for years and fed the same food as the boss’ dogs.
A 40-year-old from Heilongjiang Province, named Wang Li, was among the workers who could communicate relatively well with others. He told the paper that he attempted to escape twice in the past two years, but he was recaptured and badly beaten.
Peng Gengui, another worker, said they were given meat to eat only if they were too weak to work.