Chinese firm featured in government-backed propaganda film accused of labour rights abuses
Shoemaker Huajian Group is shown hiring workers in Ethiopia, but staff say they received low pay for long hours and had limited safety equipment
A company that made shoes for Ivanka Trump and stands accused of serious labour violations plays an unexpected role in a blockbuster propaganda film about China’s renaissance under President Xi Jinping.
The state-backed documentary Amazing China portrays the Huajian Group as a beneficent force spreading Chinese influence and prosperity – in this case, by hiring thousands of Ethiopians at wages a fraction of what they would have to pay in China. But in Ethiopia, Huajian workers told Associated Press they work without safety equipment for pay so low they can barely make ends meet.
“I’m left with nothing at the end of the month,” said Ayelech Geletu, 21, who said she earns a base monthly salary of 1,400 Birr (US$51) at Huajian’s factory in Lebu, outside Addis Ababa. “Plus, their treatment is bad. They shout at us whenever they want.”
With epic cinematography, Amazing China articulates a message of how China would like to be seen as it pursues President Xi Jinping’s vision of a globally resurgent nation, against a reality that doesn’t always measure up. The film demonstrates the scope of China’s propaganda machine, which not only crafted the stirring documentary but also helped manufacture an adoring audience for it.
The film’s director, Wei Tie, said he was not aware of the controversy surrounding Huajian until the AP informed him. That is not surprising given the years of positive coverage Huajian has enjoyed in China’s Communist Party-controlled media and the fact that many foreign news sites are blocked.
