Three labour activists have been given suspended sentences of up to three years, Chinese state media said on Tuesday, citing their involvement with “overseas organisations hostile to China”. He Xiaobo: latest victim of China's crackdown on labour activists Read moreIndependent trade unions are banned in China, with only the official All-China Federation of Trade Unions legally recognised. However, critics say it often fails to assist workers in disputes. It quoted activist Tang as saying: “On the surface, we seem to be fighting for workers’ rights, but the real intention was to expand our influence, particularly overseas.”All three defendants pleaded guilty and said they would not appeal. Workers are often left with unpaid wages and no redundancy pay.

Source: The Guardian September 27, 2016 06:33 UTC