A FACTORY in Longhua, Bao an District, is forcing its 23 workers to share in paying 12,000 yuan (US$1,813) for the loss of a machinery tool.
The factory, Lijin Group, which claims to be the largest moulded plastics machine provider in China, fired one of its technicians, Sun Wen, and fined him 5,000 yuan even though his contract is valid until May this year.
The alloy tool which was used to cut metal disappeared Dec. 21 after Sun was told by supervisors to put the machine in a passageway at the factory.
The alloy machine could be sold as scrape for 1,500 yuan at most, but the factory insisted it was worth 6,000 yuan because it could still be used, Sun said Wednesday.
Because the company could not find the thief, the management fined each of the 22 workers in the processing department 319 yuan and Sun was fined 5,000 yuan.
The company maintained that it did not call in police because it had its own internal rules. Guang Feng, a lawyer with Shenzhen Xuchan Law Firm, said yesterday it was illegal for the factory to shift the responsibility to employees.
Because Sun was a welder, he was not responsible for taking care of the tool. Even security personnel should not bear full responsibility if a theft occurs in a factory, Guan said.
It was also illegal for the factory to dissolve the contract with Sun. If they wanted to dissolve the contract, they should have told Sun one month in advance and paid compensation, Guang said.
(Han Ximin)
