Factories shut down over toxic glue
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Chen Xilong, a 23-year-old migrant worker from Sichuan province, lies in Guangzhou No 12 People's Hospital suffering the effects of glue poisoning. He had been working in a local handbag factory. |
In addition to leather, shoe and bag factories, many employees of furniture companies have also been reported with occupational diseases in recent years.
Liu said winter was the peak period for these diseases because most factories closed windows and doors against the cold.
Yang Zhiwei, a lawyer from Guangdong Faquan Law firm, attributed the growing number of work-related disease cases to migrant workers' poor understanding of their legal rights relating to health and safety.
"Government departments should also do more to protect migrant workers' legal interests as they are usually disadvantaged groups, and it is impossible to ask them not to work in the companies with poor working conditions," Yang told China Daily on Thursday.
He urged departments such as police, fire prevention, health, labor, human resources and social security to regularly launch inspections into the operations of local companies.
Chen Xilong, 23, a migrant worker from Central China's Hunan province, said he knew glues could be harmful to health.
"But I have no choice, unless I quit my job," he said.
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