Wu Zhi Kun, a former supervisor at the Progressive Plastic Metal Stationary Products Company, stands in an alleyway near his home in Dongguan, China. Mr. Wu was fired, on November 1st when the company shed 50% of its staff, after 11 years of service as his company is on the verge of bankruptcy; and is finishing a few final orders before closing down. He says he and other workers are owed a significant amount of backpay, which he feels he may never see. Dongguan has been hard hit the last few...
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Wu Zhi Kun, a former supervisor at the Progressive Plastic Metal Stationary Products Company, stands in an alleyway near his home in Dongguan, China. Mr. Wu was fired, on November 1st when the company shed 50% of its staff, after 11 years of service as his company is on the verge of bankruptcy; and is finishing a few final orders before closing down. He says he and other workers are owed a significant amount of backpay, which he feels he may never see. Dongguan has been hard hit the last few months as the economies of rich countries falter. Export demand has been reduced and companies that were operating on the margins have folded leaving thousands of migrant workers with tough choices.
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