Despite assurances by Chinese officials that its hundreds of millions of workers are protected by strong labor laws, allegations of child labor practices and other workers' rights violations in China's Guangdong province surfaced Sunday in a report given at the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in Brussels. Among a host of allegations, the report accused Chinese factories, many of which produce merchandise for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, of employing children as young as twelve, neglecting safety and health issues, and forcing workers to lie about wages and conditions to outside inspectors. Many labor experts say the allegations come as no surprise, and damage China's credibility as a nation worthy of hosting an international event of the scope of the Olympics.
See "Child labor charges shame Beijing Olympics", Middle East Times, June 12, 2007