… With production suspended, staff who opt to remain employed by Golden World Innovation Aluminum have been told they will only receive 80 per cent of the minimum monthly salary of 1,900 yuan (US$266) allowed under the labour laws in Foshan, representing a third or less of their regular income, until the start of April…

Golden World Innovation Aluminum did not respond to requests for comment…

In the central province of Henan, Yaxin Iron and Steel Group in Tangyin county also announced a suspension of production from last month until after the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February, according to a female staff member, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Yaxin Iron and Steel Group did not respond to requests for comment..

In August, Simatelex, a Hong Kong-headquartered electronics producer, closed its Shenzhen factory after 38 years, affecting hundreds of workers, according to a report by the Securities Times.

Plastics manufacturers Shenli and Forward, as well as Good Printing, have also closed their Shenzhen factories, hitting thousands of jobs, local media reported earlier this year…