School head used kids in toy plant

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese elementary school principal, suspected of using 10 of his students as child labourers in his toy factory, has been sent home from his job, a labour official has said.


Officials from the Huizhou City Labour and Social Protection Agency and law enforcement officers raided the factory run by Jukui Elementary School principal Li Yunping on Monday, the semi-official China news service said.


A total of 35 workers under 16 were found in the factory in southern Guangdong province, with the youngest only eight years old, it said on Wednesday.


"The factory leader finally acknowledged to law enforcement officers that he worked for the principal of the Jukui Elementary School," it said.


Li had been sent home from his job, but had not been arrested, said an official of the Huizhou labour department.


Though Chinese law bans labour by children under 16, child workers continue to be used in factories across the country since few enforcement mechanisms are in place.


As a result of China's single-child policy, a rural child in school can be a drain on the family and many are sent to work in factories where they are exposed to harsh treatment, long hours and low pay.