On 15 January around 10,000 workers at a factory owned by United Win (China) Technology, in Jiangsu, a subsidiary of the Taiwanese company Wintek Group, went on strike in protest against a pay cut and poor work-safety environment. Hundreds of police officers in riot gear charged and beat the demonstrators, including the female workers. Over 100 workers were reportedly injured.
Local sources also noted that workers have shown signs of poisoning due to exposure to chemical substances during production without adequate protection. At least 40 of them were still in hospital by the end of the year. One worker stated that three workers had died while some were paralysed as a result of the poisoning. The company stated that it was not a strike but “a misunderstanding”.