A Shenzhen-based company is under fire for taking photos of employees in restrooms to deter prolonged breaks and smoking. Lixun Diansheng, located in Guangdong province, has faced significant criticism after it was reported on January 20, 2025, for photographing employees using the toilet and displaying these images to discourage extended restroom breaks and smoking. The company justified its actions by stating some staff members occupied the bathroom for excessive periods, engaging in activities like smoking and playing mobile games, and would not respond when others needed to use the facilities. Company personnel used ladders to capture photos of these employees over the stall doors and posted the images on restroom walls as deterrents. They claimed the photos were removed after a few hours because 'they do not look good.'
This practice has sparked significant online backlash, with many raising concerns over privacy violations. Lawyer Zhu Xue from Celue Law Firm commented on the situation, stating, 'The companies should not record and manage its employees’ laziness but not illegal behaviour with illegitimate methods.' Online reactions have been overwhelmingly negative, with one observer noting, 'The first thing the company thought of was the photos did not look good rather than they were illegal, evidence the company lacked proper legal education.' Another questioned, 'Are they employees or slaves?'
This incident is not isolated, pointing toward broader controversies within Chinese corporate practices. For example, GOME, a major electrical appliance retailer, faced backlash for monitoring employees’ internet usage and punishing those who played games or chatted online during work hours. Similarly, Shenzhen-based Sangfor Technologies was criticized for promoting a system capable of detecting employees’ intentions to resign by monitoring their visits to job-seeking websites and resume submissions.
The controversy around Lixun Diansheng coincides with troubling allegations against BYD, the electric vehicle manufacturer known for its investments abroad, particularly in Brazil. BYD contractor Jinjiang is facing serious accusations for enforcing restrictive labor conditions on Chinese workers who traveled from China to Brazil to aid construction efforts for BYD’s new factory. Reports from January 31, 2025, indicate workers earned roughly $70 per 10-hour shift, which seemed appealing compared to Chinese standards, yet it created conditions described as 'slavery-like.'
These workers were reportedly required to hand over their passports to their employer, let most of their wages be sent directly to China, and pay almost $900 as a deposit refundable only after six months of work. Investigators found the contract signed by employees included clauses violating both Brazilian and Chinese labor laws. One lawyer, Aaron Halegua, described many of these clauses as 'textbook red flags of forced labor,' emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Despite Jinjiang's denials and claims of misconstrued facts resulting from translation issues, evidence suggests troubling conditions where workers were found crammed together without adequate facilities. During inspections, authorities found workers living together without mattresses—31 workers crowded inside one house with only one bathroom available. These conditions drew immediate scrutiny and calls for action.
BYD initially claimed ignorance of the violations until Brazilian media started reporting the issues, prompting their officials to discuss the situation with local authorities. ADy’s senior vice president Alexandre Baldy expressed regret at not being aware of the issues, stating they are committed to ensuring such situations don't occur again, adding, 'This situation never happens again.'
Nevertheless, labor inspectors stress the responsibility lies with BYD. According to Matheus Viana, acting chief of Brazil's Division of Inspection for the Eradication of Slave Labor, the corporation is directly responsible for the actions of third-party contractors on its construction sites. Local officials expressed concern, as the BYD factory was seen as part of revitalizing jobs lost when Ford shuttered its plant, leaving 5,000 unemployed. Representative Alan Sanches stated, 'We can never bring development to our state at the cost of slave labor.'
Still, this scandal shadows BYD's aim to generate significant employment; they assured plans to create local jobs, with estimates numbering around 20,000 once fully operational. Local politicians and union leaders have actively voiced their discontent at how these practices are undermining the region’s workforce.
Even as BYD moved to end its contract with Jinjiang, relevant labor violations continue to spark fear among residents over future projects, leading to potential disputes over imported labor vs. local employment. Given the current public climate and legal challenges, the future of Chinese investments, particularly under scrutiny for labor practices, faces substantial uncertainty. Local union leaders have warned BYD officials against prioritizing imported workers at the expense of Brazilian labor, hinting at potential strikes before the factory operations commence.
These controversies highlight pressing issues surrounding labor ethics and corporate responsibility within Chinese business practices, painting a picture of the challenges facing companies operating globally.