Recently, there have been multiple reports exposing that products from several well-known brands are manufactured by inmates in prisons, including Anta, Xtep, Hongxing Erke, and 361. The forced labor practices and human rights violations in Chinese prisons have once again aroused widespread attention and discussions.
On April 10, the United States banned a batch of Milwaukee Tool gloves produced in Chinese prisons due to the company’s involvement in forced prisoner labor.
The wife of political prisoner Cheng Yuan, Shi Minlei, has long been advocating against forced labor. She posted on social media X, saying, “Great news! U.S. Customs banned the supply chain of Milwaukee Tool gloves produced in Hunan Chishan Prison, as these gloves were made by prison labor.”
Cheng Yuan, human rights defender Ou Biaofeng, and Taiwanese human rights advocate Lee Ming-che were all subjected to forced labor in Hunan Chishan Prison.
Former inmate Mr. Huang, released from Dianjiang Prison last year, told Epoch Times that Dianjiang Prison has a total of eight wards, with three divisions in four wards, totaling no more than 500 people. The first and second divisions mainly produce shoe uppers, with approximately 370 people.
He mentioned, “As far as I know, apart from some unbranded products, major brands such as Anta, Xtep, Hongxing Erke, and 361 have been produced. From scattered materials to all processes except for the sole, the production value of each pair of shoes is only a few yuan. The inmates’ monthly average output is over 2,000 RMB, yet their average income does not exceed 200 RMB. Additionally, they have to purchase prison-provided daily necessities at prices much higher than market rates, further exploiting them…”
Established in 1994, Anta Sports Products Co., Ltd., headquartered in Jinjiang, Fujian, is a private enterprise specializing in branded sports shoes and apparel under the “Anta” brand.
Epoch Times reporters made repeated calls to Anta Sports Products Co., Ltd., but no one answered the calls as the phone lines went unanswered.
He further stated, “The prison disregards the regulations of the prison law and Chongqing Prison Administration Bureau, arbitrarily changing the weekly ‘5+1+1’ system (meaning five days of labor, one day of study, and one day off). The prison often extends working hours, making it an absolute sweatshop!”
According to Radio Free Asia, Lee Ming-che, a Taiwanese human rights defender who served time in Chishan Prison, said, “Chinese prison laws stipulate an 8-hour workday, a day of rest per week, and a day of education. We basically had no rest days, and education days were often used for overtime work. Working 14 hours a day, earning an average of 100 RMB per person per month, with only 5 RMB provided if the task wasn’t completed; I’ve experienced this. Such exploitation of labor is practically profiteering.”
Lee Ming-che mentioned that he saw the prison contracting with the “Jihua” company, which specializes in manufacturing military products and military shoes. Eighty percent of the work in Chishan Prison involves producing products for Milwaukee Tool and Jihua.
“I searched for the Milwaukee glove catalog online and saw some gloves I had made,” he said.
In early April, “Truth Media” posted on social media X stating, “Most of the umbrellas from Hangzhou’s Paradise Umbrella are made by inmates. Not only inmates in prisons, but also suspects temporarily detained in detention centers are forced to make umbrellas or Christmas lanterns daily without any wages.”
The netizen “Guilaoda” commented, “Our prison region Four makes Paradise umbrellas, and region Two makes Jielia towels. Many products sold on the market are made in prisons because prison labor is cheap, has high production volume, and good quality.”
Influencer “E-mailbox” revealed last year, “Paradise umbrellas, also known as prison umbrellas, are traditional handmade umbrellas produced by inmates in prisons. While such umbrellas were originally made in prisons, there are now civilian producers as well.”
Paradise Umbrella is a Chinese national brand produced by Hangzhou Paradise Umbrella Group, offering a range of products including umbrellas, sun umbrellas, beach umbrellas, craft umbrellas, and more. The finished products of Paradise Umbrella bear a work number, believed to be the inmate’s number, where a smaller number indicates a longer time served, although this has not been confirmed.
Epoch Times reporters called Hangzhou Paradise Umbrella Group to verify, and the staff replied, “This is a production factory, and there is no such thing as being made in prisons. Some accessories may be sourced from there, but not necessarily. If a group online claims that, you should ask them instead.”