Recent protests have emerged in various cities across China, with frustrated workers demanding unpaid wages and residents pushing back against a surge of new taxes and fees from financially strapped local governments.
Complaints from workers about back wages escalated as President Trump’s tariffs further impacted an already shaky Chinese economy, resulting in unprecedented and sustained protests in April. Some individuals voiced concerns about unpaid wages and benefits that have accumulated since 2023, a time when China’s recovery appeared far less vigorous than anticipated by Beijing.
Additionally, protesters felt misled by the Chinese government regarding its economic status for years, which, combined with Trump’s tariffs, hit businesses harder than expected. The decline in tariff revenue exacerbated issues for companies already struggling with debt, as many were borrowing just to meet payroll.
Protests have expanded to include teachers, construction workers, and those enduring long hours in factories.
Reports indicate that rising fees from local governments have merged with demands for unpaid wages during demonstrations.
As an example of local governments’ attempts to raise funds, the village committee in Pingtang, Gushan town, Eastern Province of Zhijiang, announced new fees for “sanitary control” and “parking” effective May 10. Residents who do not pay on time will incur additional fees, and vehicles will face restrictions starting June 1. Locals and activists criticized the move as “blatant extortion” and “illegal,” and local governments claim that they are looking into the situation.
“The escalating local debt and tightening central policies have severely hampered grassroots fiscal operations. The frontline workers and contract employees are feeling the brunt of it,” remarked Zhang, a retired teacher from Gitzhou University in Giyang city, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons.
Much of the revenue from real estate sales fees has long been a concern, with fears that the downturn in China’s real estate market might provoke a significant financial crisis in rapidly developing cities.
Now, this crisis seems to have unfolded, resulting in a mix of unpaid government officials and garment workers rallying together to demand their wages.
Historically, it was mostly migrant workers protesting for their pay, but now teachers, doctors, and sanitation workers are joining in. This shift indicates that the stability once associated with China may be beginning to fracture. Some educators claim they haven’t received their salaries for over six months, and it appears that year-end bonuses have been permanently shelved.
As usual, state media in China are attempting to downplay the protests; however, dissidents and civic journalists, including a notable entity called “Li isn’t your teacher,” have shared images and videos on social platforms.
In one such post, “Mr. Li is not your teacher” highlighted the protests where factory workers blocked their Zhijiang factory. Bloggers covering these events faced intimidation, threats, and doxxing from local authorities.
Other videos circulating, despite being prohibited, show demonstrators setting up camp outside company offices, banks, and even the homes of executives, cooking meals in makeshift kitchens.
Reports cite Chinese officials suggesting that President Trump should renew discussions on tariff reductions this month to help businesses manage their outstanding wage issues.
Recent analyses indicated that China’s clothing industry has been heavily dependent on “subcontractors” and small local businesses that lack pathways to recover from lost revenue due to US tariffs. Some of these subcontractors appear to have permanently shut down in recent weeks.
“This year has been incredibly tough. A factory with 200 employees closed overnight. The owner just can’t continue, and now they’re selling off all the equipment,” explained one protesting worker.
“This factory has been operational for over two decades. Now, the production line has completely halted,” commented a garment industry official, resigned to waiting for losses to pile up.
The China Labour Breaking News, a non-governmental organization based in Hong Kong, expressed concerns that the protests could intensify, noting that many citizens prefer to avoid confrontational responses toward the government and are more likely to wait for a more opportune moment to express their dissatisfaction.
“Hope is being used as a softening agent. We hope the factory will reopen next month and that small wage payments are made soon.”
