Chinese factory owner distributes Rs 9 crore among 400 ex-employees

A Chinese factory owner distributed about 8 million yuan (about Rs. 9 crore) among his 400 former workers, as a compensation initiative 20 years after the closure of the unit in central China. He extended this compensation not only to those who were laid off, but also to those who resigned and the families of deceased workers.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Guo Chongzhi, 70, received the money from the city’s municipal government after the land was purchased and his factory was demolished. The factory closed in 2000 due to financial problems.

The acquisition of the land was completed in 2018 and Guo Chongzhi received compensation of nearly Rs 8 crore last year. That was when he felt that every former employee, whether retired, laid off or deceased, deserved a share.

The compensation was divided into two parts: 35 percent for former employees and 65 percent for those who were still working when the factory closed.

Because the factory had been closed for decades, it proved difficult to locate the former employees and their families.

“That period was extremely stressful. I suffered from insomnia almost every night and woke up after only an hour of sleep. I lost about three kilograms in two weeks,” said Guo Chongzhi, quoted by Chongqing Daily News Group. His tactics to find the people included placing “missing persons” ads around the city and asking for police contact information.

Guo Chongzhi contacted other media sites, which allowed him to locate twenty people.

According to the Chinese media outlet, the factory owner was able to locate and compensate one of his former employees, Wen Zhihong, before she died of a serious illness.

“My mother had cancer and could not speak. My father brought the money to her hospital bed to comfort her. She passed away a few days after seeing the compensation. Our family is grateful to Director Guo,” Wen Zhihong’s son told SCMP.

Guo Chongzhi has so far managed to compensate 371 of his former employees, with 406 names on his list.

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The factory owner has asked the media for help in locating 35 people, but they have not yet been found.

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Guo Chongzhi’s gestures were widely praised by the Chinese Internet community.

The factory owner has asked the media for help in locating 35 people, but they have not yet been found.

Guo Chongzhi’s gestures were widely praised by the Chinese Internet community.