A former Chinese political prisoner has claimed that he was forced to sew work gloves for an American brand. The man was sewing gloves for the brand name Milwaukee Tool, a building supplies company, a report by The Times on Monday (July 1) said.

The man, given the pseudonym Xu Lun to protect his identity, filed a lawsuit in Milwaukee federal court against Milwaukee Tool and its Hong Kong-based parent company, Techtronic Industries, the report said. 

In the lawsuit filed last week, Lun said he had to work for 13 hours a day in harsh conditions while serving five years at the Chishan prison in Hunan province. He was only allowed a 25-minute lunch break and additional ten-minute breaks in the morning and afternoon.

According to the lawsuit, the factory had no air conditioning or heating, and prisoners were subjected to severe weather conditions. “Many prisoners developed eczema and other skin ailments in the hot and humid factories,” the lawsuit added. 

The lawsuit also pointed out that the factory was laden with fabric dust so severe that prisoners were required to wash off the dust before they were allowed to take showers. This constant exposure to dust caused respiratory health issues for many prisoners, it added.

The Times report said that Lun was said to be a campaigner for the rights of people affected by HIV, and was jailed for subversion of state power. 

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) last week, a representative for Milwaukee Tool said it found no evidence of forced labour in the production of its gloves despite rigorous investigations and it considered the claim (made by Lun) meritless. 

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The company has already been forced to defend itself against similar claims when they were made in 2023 by a US congressional committee investigating corporate ties to China.

(With inputs from agencies)