Former staff at one in every of China’s best-known comedian studios lately uncovered the cruel working situations on the office, the place they’ve lived collectively in a “farm-like” flat for years, dealing with overwork and sleep deprivation. A-soul is one in every of China’s most famous manga studios. It’s located in a rural space of southeastern Beijing and it at the moment employs greater than 70 employees members. In latest months, a number of comedian artists have come ahead, accusing the studio of poor working situations, claiming that they had been overworked, sleep-deprived and verbally abused, the South China Morning Submit reported.
In mid-September, a former A-soul worker, recognized on-line as Zhenliubao, took to the Chinese language social media platform Weibo, accusing the studio of “shattering” his dream. The ex-worker reportedly claimed that since 2008, dozens of comedian artists have lived in dormitories transformed from a livestock manufacturing facility, sharing communal areas and utilizing unisex loos.
“We had been by no means allowed to open the curtains, forcing us to work in a darkish atmosphere for years,” he wrote, per SCMP.
The previous worker added that the boss insisted on being known as “brother” and prohibited them from studying books or searching for medical remedy after they had been unwell. He additionally alleged that staff had been manually managed by verbal abuse and indoctrination, preserving them in a state of fixed overwork. The salaries had been additionally cut up equally and no social safety advantages had been supplied, he added.
In his on-line submit, Zhenliubao revealed that the studio head is Liu Zhi. He talked about searching for authorized help.
One other former worker, recognized as Laogui, additionally reported being overworked and sleep-deprived. He reportedly claimed that he was usually compelled to attract 12 to 14 pages a day as an alternative of the same old 4 to 6 pages. “I’ve gone gray in my twenties and face immense psychological stress day by day,” he wrote in his on-line submit.
Nonetheless, as quickly because the controversy surrounding A-soul studio went viral on social media, present A-soul worker Liu Ke, who was ranked ninth on the 2013 China Comedian Artists’ Wealthy Record, launched an announcement supporting the studio.
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The artist claimed that the poor working situations had been a results of the studio being “extraordinarily poor” at the moment. He additionally claimed that earlier than the studio was formally registered, he and different staff “voluntarily” pooled their salaries to maintain the group afloat. He additionally denied the accusations of compelled labour, per SCMP.
“A-soul is a household of formidable comedian artists constructed from scratch. Making a utopia requires the spirit of sacrifice,” Mr Liu asserted.
In the meantime, on social media, customers slammed the corporate. “A-soul’s actions violate human rights! This can be a slave manufacturing facility, not a spot the place artists can pursue their goals,” one consumer commented.
“If what Zhenliubao has said is true, the studio has violated labour legal guidelines. Collect the proof and take them to courtroom. Justice will prevail,” one other added.
“Present and former staff have conflicting accounts. Let’s look ahead to the authorities to analyze earlier than leaping to conclusions,” prompt a 3rd consumer.