Volkswagen is once again facing allegations of forced labor by Uyghurs in western China’s Xinjiang province, according to a media report. Forced labor was allegedly used in the construction of a VW test track in Turpan. The major German company wants to ‘investigate’ the allegations.
The ‘Handelsblatt’ is based on statements by Adrian Zenz, a scientist who specializes in human rights violations in China.
“On the website of the companies that built the VW-Saic test track, there is clear evidence that Uyghur forced laborers were used in the construction phase, who were hired through labor transfer programs and so-called anti-poverty measures,” said Zenz, who was in the US working at a foundation for victims of communism. During the construction of the test track, there were measures to control and oppress Uyghurs.
VW wants to investigate the allegations
Volkswagen initially made no comment when asked. A VW spokesperson told Handelsblatt that the company had no information about human rights violations in the project but wanted to investigate.
At the end of last year, the carmaker presented the results of an investigation into human rights violations at its Urumqi factory in Xinjiang. According to the audit, which was carried out under pressure from investors, no evidence of forced labor or human rights abuses was found on site.
Withdrawal from the region was necessary
The chemical company BASF announced last week that it would withdraw from a joint venture in Xinjiang due to the human rights situation. Uyghur researcher Zenz then told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” that Volkswagen should also withdraw from Xinjiang.
According to previous information, almost 200 people work at the VW plant, which is operated together with Chinese partner company SAIC, of whom about 50 belong to the Muslim minority.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
