▲ Controversy erupts over the alleged exploitation of a disabled elderly man in China
A controversy has erupted in China following allegations that a disabled man in his 60s was forced to work for approximately 20 years without receiving any wages.
According to local media reports, including China Newsweek, on June 11, a video was recently posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo showing a disabled elderly man working at a cement shop in Baoding, Hebei Province, who had allegedly been subjected to long-term unpaid labor.
The video shows an elderly man with graying hair and a scruffy beard carrying bags of cement.
The whistleblower claimed that the man had been carrying cement from early morning until late at night every day without receiving any pay.
As the video spread and the controversy grew, authorities launched an investigation into the facts.
The investigation revealed that the man had been living and working with the operator of the cement shop for about 20 years.
Authorities stated that a medical examination showed no particular health issues, and they were able to locate the man's family through DNA matching.
Police have apprehended the owner of the cement shop and are investigating the exact circumstances of the case.
Professor Liu Jialiang of East China Normal University analyzed for China Newsweek, "Based on the circumstances revealed so far, it is possible that the business owner could be charged with forced labor or illegal detention."
(Photo: Captured from Chinese social media Weibo, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.