Jiangsu police arrest clothing workshop boss for hiring underage workers

The head of an unlicensed clothing workshop is currently in police custody in Changshu, Jiangsu province, according to the city's official Weibo account on Nov. 21.

The 40-year-old man, originally from Anhui province, was operating the workshop at a clothing market in Changshu, which is known within China for its wholesale clothing.

According to reports, underage employees were forced to work in the shop all day and night, and many of the workers were under 10 years old. They weren't paid their salaries until the end of the year, and were threatened with the confiscation of their ID cards, bank cards and cellphones if they attempted to run away. They also risked getting beaten if they disobeyed the rules.

Police are currently investigating a number of workshops in Changshu, in a bid to crack down on child labor infractions.