Workers strike in China hits Singapore electronics firm

Over 200 workers at a Singapore-owned electronics plant in Shanghai continued to strike for a third day yesterday to denounce what they claimed was a management plan for mass layoffs, in the latest outbreak of labour unrest in China.

Slogan chanting workers dressed in blue jackets and carrying banners, demanded explanations from the company's management. They blocked the entrance to the factory owned by Hi-P International, an electronics contract manufacturer.

Hi-P's customers include, Apple and BlackBerry maker Research in Motion according to media and analyst reports.

Workers first struck work at the plant located in the Pudong district on Wednesday, denouncing what they said was a plan to relocate the plant to a Shanghai suburb and demanded compensation for layoffs.

According to the workers, the company planned to hire new staff.

Hi-P International, denying it had fired workers, said in a statement to the Singapore stock exchange, "The company is currently in discussion with the workers with the support of the authorities and the labour union.''