Labour Strikes in China

 

The strike at Honda Auto Parts Manufacturing in Guangdong had been ongoing since May 17, 2010, and this may serve as a timely reminder of the social strains brought about by China being the ‘world’s factory’.

Workers demanded for increases in their wages in the southern city of Foshan and these movements put operations at Honda’s four automobile assembly plants to a halt. Thousands of workers left the assembly plants and participated in strikes to pressure the company for hikes in their wages, which currently stand at an average of 1,500 yuan per month.

On June 1, 2010, Honda proposed a 24% wage rise to the workers to end the strikes that had been thrust into the limelight, bringing to attention labour unrest issues in one of the world’s largest economy. Most of the workers are agreeable to the new wages offered by Honda, which would raise their monthly incomes to 1,910 yuan,  far exceeding that of China’s legal minimum wage pegged at 920 yuan per month.