Archive of content related to Changzhou.
Reports claim that on September 5, 2026, after fresh graduates laid off by Changzhou Xingyu Co., Ltd. filed complaints with overseas institutions, the local labor department and officials reversed their position and ruled that the company's layoffs were illegal while avoiding accountability for subsidy fraud; related discussions on Zhihu were deleted.
On September 4, 2026, after Radio Free Asia reported on the Changzhou Xingyu incident, Chinese workers paid widespread attention to defending their rights with the help of the EU Forced Labor Regulation, and several labor experts offered interpretations of the determination standards and the supply chain complaint mechanism.
On September 3, 2026, New Yellow River reported that Changzhou Xingyu's full-time production employees fell by more than 40% in 2025, while labor outsourcing hours surged 25.9% against the trend, and mass contract cancellations by fresh graduates occurred one after another.
Volkswagen China announced that it had immediately launched a special investigation, and stated that the principle of respecting workers' lawful rights and interests equally applies to the supply chain system.
On September 1, 2026, Volkswagen's China unit responded to complaints that Changzhou-based Xingyu Shares had collectively pushed out fresh graduates, saying the group had launched a special investigation into supply chain companies and stressing that respecting workers' rights is a core principle of its operations.
Several fresh graduates whose employment contracts were terminated by Changzhou Xingyu complained about the matter to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the German Volkswagen Group; the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and relevant Volkswagen departments confirmed that they had received the materials.
On August 28, 2026, fresh graduates whose offers were rescinded by Changzhou Xingyu Shares filed complaints over labor rights violations with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and their client, Germany's Volkswagen Group. The HKEX's Listing Division and Volkswagen's investigation office successively confirmed in writing that the complaints had been received and would be examined.
On August 27, 2026, banners with intimidating slogans were photographed hanging within the grounds of Xingyu Auto Lamp Co., Ltd. in Changzhou, Jiangsu. The banners read: “Whoever smashes Xingyu’s rice bowl, Xingyu will smash theirs,” sparking widespread discussion.
On August 21, 2026, workers at Beiteer Daily Necessities Co., Ltd. in Wujin District, Changzhou, Jiangsu exposed that the factory had maliciously withheld wages year after year, and some workers owed wages were forced to defend their rights through extreme means yet still could not recover the arrears.
A video circulating online shows a small helicopter flying at low altitude near Nanshiashu Street, Wujin District, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, apparently losing control and crashing to the ground, with the aircraft suffering severe damage. The condition of the people on board has drawn the attention of netizens.