Officials trying to ID enslaved disabled workers rescued from brick kiln

Authorities in China are struggling to identify 30 people they rescued from illegal brick kilns where they were being enslaved and abused, state-run media reported Wednesday.

The officials are having a difficult time identifying some of the workers because at least 17 of them are disabled or have a mental illness, police told the state-run China Daily newspaper.

"Some of them can't even speak a whole sentence, and they don't act like normal people," Liu Weiming, deputy director of publicity in Zhumadian, where the workers were rescued, told the state-run paper. "Most are staying at a relief station because they can't remember where they are from."

Read the full story at CNN's This Just In blog

Post by: CNN's Mallory Simon

Topics: In The News

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soundoff (4 Responses)

Carla

There are so many people working in an enslavement condition in Asia and elsewhere. Things must be kept being reported and authorities must be bothered by the common people until justice is done.

September 8, 2011 at 1:25 am | Reply
sissy

I saw a Chinese movie showing a very young teacher who rescued one of her students.The teacher and her six year old students worked at a brick factory to raise funds to go to the city to rescue the child. The teacher had to beg the authorities for help. Their classroom was furnished with a chalkboard, tables made from scraps and one box of shared chalk.

September 10, 2011 at 10:40 am | Reply
Scortch Dearth

Slave-like conditions & pay are necessary in Indonesia & China, in order to keep American CEO's & the investor class wealthy. You support them every time you buy a product not made in the U.S.

September 12, 2011 at 8:07 am | Reply
Ben James

Slave labor keeps us unemployed and makes Wal-Mart rich. BUY LOCAL!!!!!

September 14, 2011 at 12:57 pm | Reply