Wal-Mart China introduces a new work hour scheduling system. (Photo : Getty Images)
According to a Reuters report, workers protesting against Wal-Mart's new work scheduling system in China--believed to be devised to cut overtime pay--have recently returned to work.
The strikes at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. outlets in China began earlier this July in Nanchang City and have spread to other branches in other cities via social media, particularly through an online group at WeChat called "Wal-Mart Chinese Workers' Association."
Zhang Liya, an employee at the store's Shenzhen outlet, stated that around 50 to 60 employees in Wal-Mart's Nanchang, Chengdu and Harbin were involved in staging strikes.
"(The stores) launched the strikes on their own. If Wal-Mart malevolently continues with this then there will definitely be even more stores that stand up," Zhang added.
U.S.-based Wal-Mart spokeswoman Jo Newbould defended that the new system only allows workers to have more flexibility, giving them the liberty to do additional shifts if they want to.
"We have communicated the new system to Wal-Mart China associates and the majority of associates support it," Jo told Reuters.
However, according Wal-Mart Nanchang employee Duan Yu, who was representing the protesters during discussions with the management, they have been stating their disagreement with the new paradigm since May.
"I have a very bad feeling about it. There's no possibility they'll agree (to our demands)," Duan told Reuters via a phone interview.
Duan further revealed that during a meeting with the management of Wal-Mart Nanchang, the store's officials tried to break the workers up and instead spoke to them one by one to "find people with sympathetic ears."
According to Hong Kong-based workers' right group China Labour Bulletin, the strikes ended because Wal-Mart vowed to respond to the employees' demand in a week.
Nonetheless, Wal-Mart China declined to give a comment as to whether it really agreed to negotiate with their workers.
In the recent period, China has seen worker unrest as it faces slowing economic growth, prompting various companies to cut costs.
