Volkswagen continues to hold on to the factory in the Xinjiang region - despite reports of human rights violations. China boss Wöllenstein refers to the company's code of conduct.
Hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs are in punishment and re-education camps in China's Xinjiang region, human rights groups suspect. China is accused of obliging Uyghurs to perform forced labor. Volkswagen, undeterred, continues to produce cars in Xingjiang. Despite reports of human rights violations, the Wolfsburg-based company continues to operate its plant in Urumqi, the capital of the region.
The company's China boss, Stephan Wöllenstein, told journalists in Shanghai on Sunday that a group code of conduct applies to the Volkswagen plant in Urumqi, as it does to all other sites. This also applies to all suppliers, he said. "An issue like forced labor, cannot exist with us because we employ people directly," Wöllenstein said.
Furthermore, "diversity" would be implemented. Wöllenstein assured that ethnic minorities would also be employed "without any form of discrimination". He noted a "clear tightening of the political climate" in the world. It is also a fact that China's reputation is suffering, he said. "That it will also be critical of us at some point is certainly something we cannot dismiss out of hand," Wöllenstein said. read more