Chinese sweat-shop slavery in Malta: Leisure Clothing
Jimmy Magro knew what was going on and was in and out of the factory, says this eyewitness who worked there while a student 23 years ago.
Il-Mument yesterday carried a front page report on sweatshop slave labour of Chinese workers at a factory called Leisure Clothing.
The factory was set up in the Golden Years of Labour and has been running since.
Nothing was ever done about the plight of these ‘invisible’ Chinese slave labourers, but now we are suddenly noticing anything to do with the Chinese.
A reader has sent in the comment below under the name Daisy Wells, about her experience at that same factory 23 years ago, when the situation was like that already.
She mentions how Jimmy Magro (for years secretary-general of the Malta Labour Party) used to come and go all the time and how he was well aware of what was going on.
Magro was an official of the Malta Development Corporation at some point. The MDC was responsible for factories. When Labour came into power last year, he was given a job and salary at Malta Enterprise.
It is really shocking how nobody ever did anything about this in all these years. The Labour Party clearly had no incentive to do so, despite all its talk about progressive liberalism, fighting at the vanguard for workers’ rights, and all that other false talk.
And the Nationalist government? Some explanations are in order here, and immediate action by this government to inform the Chinese administrators of that factory that slave labour conditions are not permissible in the European Union.
These Chinese slave workers – the report in Il-Mument says – are SMUGGLED into Malta. How? How is it possible for smuggled slaves to remain invisible in an island this small? The answer is that they are not invisible. It’s that nobody wants to know. The violation of human rights is horrendous.
Is the government likely to clamp down on this violation now, when its begging-bowl still lies at the feet of the Chinese government, when the Chinese government will have such a big stake in our power supply, when it is desperate for China’s money? No.
Human rights NGOs and the press must take up the cause of these people because nobody else is going to do it. The Nationalist Party, instead of demanding that the police investigate the reports of Chinese slave labour in its own newspaper, has gone to town on George Pullicino.
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Posted by Daisy Wells:
This factory Leisure Clothing has been there for ages. Twenty-three years for sure and it was full of Laburisti and Chinese people.
I used to work there whilst studying and the person who was very much aware of what was going on was ex MLP secretary-general Jimmy Magro, who has now been given some kind of role at Malta Enterprise. I still remember him coming very frequently to the premises.
At the time, the Chinese workers were both men and women and at one point, one man of around 32 suffered a massive heart attack because they were making them work endless hours. That was hushed up and I remember that some other Chinese bosses came and cleaned out all the drawers in the sewing machines as the Chinese workers were popping pills to keep awake.
They asked us to transport them to the factory at 6am. Then at 10am a van would come to give them some really disgusting food with worms in it, and water. Then again at 1pm the food van comes again to feed them.
When we Maltese employers used to leave at 4pm, the Chinese workers would remain there till God knows when. They used to live at Fort St Angelo at that time. Now they live in barracks next to the Employment & Training Corporation. I meet their bus quite frequently when I’m on my way to work round about 6.30am.
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It sounds like something out of Saviano’s Gomorrah.
Where are the Maltese MEPs? Can’t they report these atrocities to the European Commission?
[Daphne – What does the European Commission have to do with it? We have a government, a police force, a Labour Office, and labour laws.]
Since we should not hold our breath that Government will act, then yes our MEPs should bring up this subject in European Parliament.
And the European Parliament will refer the MEPs right back to their national jurisdiction. That’s if they’re allowed to raise the issue in the European Parliament at all, because illegal activity of this sort really is a national issue.
It’s great to see Joe Mikallef back into investigative journalism, rather than the back of house job as features editor which had been given to him a few years back..!
If you wear Armani, Hugo Boss, Jaeger, Karen Millen, Aquascutum, Ted Baker, Austin Reed, Whistles, Hobbs, Coast, or Daks, you’re exploiting slave labour.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100808/business/bulebel-textile-manufacturer-wins-giorgio-armani-contract.321382
Addidas, Puma, and Nike are other brands allegedly using slave labour. One way of helping out is boycotting the brands that are found to use sweatshops (e.g., Addidas).
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/feb/19/1
And what about Dolce & Gabjetta?
if you wear all those brands, you’re either rich, gay or both.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121128/local/Omeng-the-cat-that-got-a-Chinese-man-arrested.447167
This might make more sense now. Bin Han was the managing director of Leisure Clothing. Could it be that the cats were being caught to feed the workers ?
At first I thought that you were joking.
You do make a chilling point however.
Leisure Clothing is Chinese state-owned. The workers are held slave by their own government.
What happens to the Enemalta workers sold off to the Chinese state-owned shareholders?
The parent company is in Chonqing.
http://english.cicet.com/html/Sub_Branch/Foreign_Branch/16.Html
Have they started importing Chinese slave workers to help in the building of the new power station?
They are going to need a lot of them to build it with only a “couple of months” delay.
That is true. There is a community of Chinese living near the Employment & Training Corporation (of all places!). I never thought about this, but what the hell are these people doing there, segregated and living in such conditions?
The Opposition was successfully diverted from concentrating on the main problems of this nation by the Muscat-Mizzi combo.
And Muscat is having a thrill and a laugh thanks to the PN.
Apparently the country is having an election fatigue, a power station fatigue…
Jeez, anyone with Muscrat fatigue?
Why am I not surprised that the Maltese could not care less of the situation of foreign people being employed and getting paid a very low salary not to speak about their working conditions.
Some Maltese are very happy employing illegal immigrants and giving them the same type of working conditions and wages. Basta we are a very generous nation contributing to the innumerable ‘charitable marathons’ – to ease our conscience maybe?
Has this person ever contacted or informed any one about what was being going on in this factory? Why is she telling it now may I ask?
[Daphne – Because now she has the forum in which to speak: this website. And because the subject has come up in the news now.]
If all this is true and conditions are and were as disgusting and inhumane as they are reported to be today, we should hang our heads in shame.
Do all these non-EU women have work permits? Does the Department of Labour go anywhere near this factory? Does any trade union care about these women slave workers?
The Chinese were never there because they chose to. More than one employee used to talk to us how they are practically abducted from their own home and sent here. They even abducted ladies who had just given birth and sent them to Malta.
I used to work with a company who used to buy from Leisure Clothing. I was always told that the Chinese working there used to consider themselves lucky being sent to Malta from China. I must say also that I nevere asked about their working conditions.
Who are the directors? Is it possible other locally owned factories are using these Chinese? NI contributions, individual and company income tax returns, leases? Are there any Maltese employees? About time an official investigation takes place and the full facts made known.
Police investigations were stopped.
http://maltarightnow.com/news/2014/10/27/pressjoni-fuq-l-awtoritajiet-tal-gvern-iwaqqfu-lill-pulizija-milli-tissokta-bl-investigazzjonijiet/?utm
If no official investigation takes place, will the media investigate ?
http://www.tvm.com.mt/news/jitnehhew-152-ligi-li-mghadhomx-jaghmlu-sens/
Sabiha l-harsa ta’ Joseph lejn l-Ispeaker
Good on Franco Debono to stand up for the the birds. It is no longer safe for the pigeons to transport the messages.
How was this outright scandal not used by the PL during their last pre-election campaign? Was it funding the party too?
To be fair it is the PN media which has broken the story, so hopefully, the party will follow it up, both in Parliament and outside.
It is true, however, that one PN administration after another sadly failed to uncover this scandal and protect the workers. It’s a shame.
These were the real shortcomings of PN governments and it is to these slaves that the party should apologise, not to petulant disgruntled Nationalists, those insufferable “Nazzjonalisti mweġġgħin”.
Police investigations were stopped.
http://maltarightnow.com/news/2014/10/27/pressjoni-fuq-l-awtoritajiet-tal-gvern-iwaqqfu-lill-pulizija-milli-tissokta-bl-investigazzjonijiet/?utm
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141027/local/libyan-radio-and-tv-to-broadcast-from-malta.541467
Dangerous.
In less than an hour (at 12.20pm), there were 17 comments on timesonline all doubting the wisdom of this decision.
Vera gvern bil-ghaqal.
That Jimmy Magro looks to be part Chinese.
In fact, he resembles the current leader of China.
How so?
Look at his eyes and that insincere smile.
Actually, he looks more like the former Chinese leader, Hu Jintao.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hu_Jintao
Chou En Lai in his later years.
Find a photo of a smiling Hu Jintao and compare that with a the above photo of Jimmy Magro. You will see a strong resemblance.
Mr Magro is like a chip off the old Hu Jintao.
Price of oil:
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21627619-lower-price-will-boost-world-economy-and-harm-some-unpleasant-regimesbut-there-are
This just cannot be true – unfortunately I am not subscribed to premium on ToM (no money to waste).. however, I cannot believe that this is what was actually said seeing as it goes completely contrary to the Procurement Regulations and to the EU laws on public procurement (transparency, information etc. – and seeing how anal government departments can be when dealing with small insignificant SMEs or NGOs)
“When Times of Malta contacted the Department of Contracts, which awarded the tender, it was told the department was not obliged to reveal the information of the companies involved.”
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141027/local/unknown-firms-win-356000-hub-contract.541471
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100808/business/bulebel-textile-manufacturer-wins-giorgio-armani-contract.321382
News from 2010
‘..Even locally, Leisure Clothing was winning contracts indirectly, such as for Air Malta and Bank of Valletta, and also produced a limited amount of stock for Bortex’s growing retail network…’
Dawk l-ingravati kollha ghidli.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141027/local/libyan-radio-and-tv-to-broadcast-from-malta.541467
And now this. And we had to read about it elsewhere ghax mhux fl-interess tal-poplu ghal Muscat.
Always wondered what the Chinese girls at Hal Far were doing.
Daisy Wells is correct. Up to early nineties those Chinese used to live in derelict buildings just outside St Angelo. The buildings and the surrounding area were in a filthy state and the factory was in KORDIN industrial estate.
“And the Nationalist government? Some explanations are in order here…” But why am I not surprised? Remember this:
http://archive.maltatoday.com.mt/2007/08/05/t3.html
and this:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20050728/local/stricter-guidelines-on-chinese-student-visas.82838
I seem to remember that a diplomat was recalled and ( if memory serves me) was sent Libya were something similar started to happen with other irregular immigrants.
What i do know for certain is that a TV journalist who was investigating the connection between certain English language schools and these tragic stories was told from very high up to drop the case.
Gvern li jeqred il-faqar. Prim giddieb daqs Joseph Muscat ghad irid jinhalaq.
Why did this story come out now? I am sure many knew about this as it has been going on for many years. So those who knew about it should be accused of Omertà. Do these workers pay taxes and national insurance? If not the government was being robbed and the owners becoming rich at our cost. Shame on all responsible.
[Daphne – At YOUR expense? How about the slave-workers themselves?]
Naples is full of similar factories allowed to operate by the Camorra. These sweatshops must be closed down.
If there is someone to be ashamed of is the GWU that was present from the beginning and I assume it still represents Maltese workers that always ignored the Chinese workers’ work conditions.
I remember them, past the bridge on the Vittoriosa Waterfront. They lived in squalor in barracks some of which did not even have glass panes to the windows.
But this alas was under the Nationalist government too, as you pointed out. We closed our eyes and facilitated Laburisti during entire tenure, hoping that they would be appreciative and grateful. What a rude awakening, although I am not sure whether the Nationalist MPs will ever shake that mentality off.
Gladio, the GWU would not be interested. No Money here. A lot different when it comes to integrating illegal immigrants.
It’s getting loads of dosh From the Eu Integration Fund, as are other NGOS. Money talks, not principles.
Spagu, but this was before EU membership and it started under the good old days of Labour mid eighties and continued after 1987 under successive PN governments and is still continuing.
That’s why GWU should be ashamed because it was its duty to stop this type of slavery from the beginning. But you are right to state that GWU was not interested in workers’ rights both Maltese and foreign under Labour but only became interested in worker’s rights following the change in government.