Chinese labour authorities are investigating a wage dispute after a factory manager allegedly told a woman applying for a summer job that she was “only worth one yuan an hour” after she requested payment for a single day of trial work.
The incident took place on July 23 in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, where the woman reportedly quit after working just one day and asked the factory to pay her wages.
According to the factory’s management, both parties had agreed to a three-day trial period, with wages to be settled after the trial ended.
The factory claimed the woman was unable to adapt to the job and had only worked for one day without contributing meaningful productivity, and therefore refused to pay her.
The factory owner also acknowledged that the manager’s remarks were inappropriate and said disciplinary action had been taken against the staff member.
The owner added that the factory has since been targeted by online abuse and said a police report had been lodged, with recordings of the incidents submitted as evidence.
Local labour authorities have launched an investigation into the wage dispute and will determine whether the factory breached labour regulations.
