Recently, each of the over 60 sanitation workers of Rudong, east China's Jiangsu province got a white box, which was required to be worn during work. However, the measure was soon calld off due to the widespread controversy, Guangzhou Daily reported.

"It is said that the box is a GPS device that will monitor our work," some workers said. Such monitoring measure has triggered extensive discussion online: many people think it is disrespectful to workers. An official from the sanitation department of Rudong county explained that the box is a portable positioning terminal and both the workers and the management need to wear it, as a measure of smart supervision. However, the measure was soon calld off due to the widespread controversy.

On the morning of Sept. 11, dozens of sanitary workers, each wearing a business card sized white equipment, were working in the street. According to a worker, it was the requirement of the superior. The GPS device was put into the pocket of the waistcoat. The worker said, "The GPS device is used to monitor us. See if we are late at work or talk with families in working hours. We are asked to wear it every day; otherwise we will pay a fine."

Many sanitary workers felt the measure improper. "Isn't it enough to clean up the streets. Why should we wear it? We are not prisoners," one said.

However, the measure was rather short-lived: workers only wore it for half a day, and then the measure was called off.　

The reporter interviewed an official from the sanitary department of Rudong county, who said, "It is part of the measures of the 'smart sanitation'. Not just the workers, members of the management team also need to wear." The GPS device aimed to spot the saboteurs and enhance efficiency.