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China bails activists at shoe factories linked to Ivanka Trump | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Three undercover activists investigating a company which made shoes for the fashion line of President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka have been released on bail. | Three undercover activists investigating a company which made shoes for the fashion line of President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka have been released on bail. |
New York-based China Labor Watch (CLW) said its investigators would be put on trial at a later date. | New York-based China Labor Watch (CLW) said its investigators would be put on trial at a later date. |
The group says it has uncovered evidence of pay violations and physical violence at the Huajian group. | The group says it has uncovered evidence of pay violations and physical violence at the Huajian group. |
The Ivanka Trump brand says the company has not made shoes for it since March. | The Ivanka Trump brand says the company has not made shoes for it since March. |
However, CLW said it had obtained production schedules for May and June which contained orders for the brand. | However, CLW said it had obtained production schedules for May and June which contained orders for the brand. |
The Huajian group denies accusations of forced overtime, low wages, and other abuses made by CLW. | The Huajian group denies accusations of forced overtime, low wages, and other abuses made by CLW. |
Pictures and video | Pictures and video |
The accused worked undercover at Huajian factories which CLW says also manufactured products for other brands. | The accused worked undercover at Huajian factories which CLW says also manufactured products for other brands. |
Su Heng, Li Zhao, and Hua Haifeng were detained separately in late May after taking part in the investigation. | Su Heng, Li Zhao, and Hua Haifeng were detained separately in late May after taking part in the investigation. |
The Chinese authorities said they had been detained for using illegal surveillance equipment. | The Chinese authorities said they had been detained for using illegal surveillance equipment. |
CLW said the trio's actions had not constituted crimes but admitted it had collected a series of pictures and eight hours of video footage during its investigation. | CLW said the trio's actions had not constituted crimes but admitted it had collected a series of pictures and eight hours of video footage during its investigation. |
Workers at the shoe factories laboured for 15 hours a day, the group alleged, and up to 18 hours at busy times - sometimes finishing at 01:30 and returning to work at 07:10. | Workers at the shoe factories laboured for 15 hours a day, the group alleged, and up to 18 hours at busy times - sometimes finishing at 01:30 and returning to work at 07:10. |
No overtime was paid, and workers who resigned were not paid, CLW said. | No overtime was paid, and workers who resigned were not paid, CLW said. |
"Management frequently verbally abused and sometimes physically hit workers," it added. | "Management frequently verbally abused and sometimes physically hit workers," it added. |
It also alleges that the company fined workers for being absent, deducted the fines from their pay and fabricated pay slips to show higher amounts than workers were actually paid. | It also alleges that the company fined workers for being absent, deducted the fines from their pay and fabricated pay slips to show higher amounts than workers were actually paid. |
Ms Trump has not directly commented on the controversy since it first emerged in May, though CLW said it had written to her on two occasions. | Ms Trump has not directly commented on the controversy since it first emerged in May, though CLW said it had written to her on two occasions. |
She continues to hold a stake in the business but works in her father's White House administration. | She continues to hold a stake in the business but works in her father's White House administration. |
CLW's director, Li Qiang, said that as the US president's daughter, and holding a White House role, she had "power and influence" to directly intervene. | CLW's director, Li Qiang, said that as the US president's daughter, and holding a White House role, she had "power and influence" to directly intervene. |
"However, based on what we have seen so far, she has left us very disappointed," it said. | "However, based on what we have seen so far, she has left us very disappointed," it said. |
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