Africans oppressed in their own countries by China

Beijing [China]: Despite the importance of China-Africa alliances based on "mutual prosperity," China's engagement with African countries is marred by deep-seated racial prejudices that lead to violations of human rights, injustice, and exploitation, according to the International Forum for Rights and Security, a Canada-based think tank (IFFRAS).

According to the report, China, which has become the largest trading partner for the majority of African countries and provides funds for infrastructure projects such as rail and natural resource development, continues to exploit its employees and labourers in their own country.

The trade partnership between China and Africa has had numerous negative consequences, including debt traps, over-dependence, and violations of workers' and human rights in several African countries. Foreign employers enslave African workers in their own countries.

According to the report, there have been numerous cases of labour exploitation. Local workers in the mining and infrastructure sectors are not provided with protective equipment. They are not compensated or assisted when they sustain severe injuries.

The majority of the employees work without an official contract and have no proof of employment. As a result, they are vulnerable to wrongful termination.

A Kenyan waiter was awarded more than USD 25,000 in damages in 2021 after being whipped by the owner of his Chinese restaurant. The abuse was recorded on video, and the boss was seen laughing while the waiter begged for forgiveness. According to the IFFRAS report, a Kenyan court found the man had also experienced "continuous sexual harassment, corporal punishment, verbal abuse, and confinement" while working at the restaurant.

China's exploitation does not stop with its workers; several cases of sexual abuse of local women have also been reported.

According to the report, over a dozen single women in Uganda are struggling to raise their children after their Chinese "fathers" abandoned them.

A local employee of a Chinese construction company was fired after becoming pregnant by a Chinese employee and being deemed unfit to continue working, according to the report.

There is growing outrage in Africa against Chinese companies for mistreating local workers, but investigations and inspections have revealed that Chinese companies ignore such violations.

They have established a small kingdom in which they exploit African workers. (ANI)