China claims US fast food chains exploit part-timers

An official with the All China Federation of Trade Unions accused US fast food chains KFC, McDonald's and Pizza Hut of violating China's labor law and promised to take action to protect workers' interests.

Xinhua reports that the unidentified official said that they have asked the Guangdong Province Federation to investigate the employment of part-time workers by fast food chains and claim wage compensation on behalf of the workers involved.

The Shanghai Trade Union, and the Hubei and Fujian federations have also expressed their concern about the issue, with Hubei Province Federation already asking subordinate organizations to investigate local branches of the foreign fast food chains suspected of violating workers' rights.

The trade unions will provide legal aid to the workers affected by the issue with the help of local labor and social security offices. These offices will start an inspection between May and June to find out if workers are not being paid minimum wage and if employments are being signed.

A newspaper based in Guangzhou ran a report last week claiming that US fast food chains are underpaying and overworking their part-time staff.

The fast food chains' management claim that China's labor laws are unclear.

McDonald's has more than 790 restaurants and 50,000 employees in the Chinese mainland and aims to open 100 new restaurants a year.

Yum Brands, whose 2,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Chinese-style East Dawning restaurants in China account for almost one-third of its global profit, employs more than 100,000 staff.