DNC: Ivanka should cut ties with China company

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Tuesday urged President Trump’s daughter Ivanka to sever ties with a Chinese company that produces her brand’s shoes, following a report that three men investigating the company had been arrested or gone missing.

“For years, Ivanka Trump has ignored public reports of awful labor conditions at a factory that makes her shoes,” Adrienne Watson, the DNC’s deputy communications director Adrienne Watson said in a statement. “Now, she must decide whether she can ignore the Chinese government’s apparent attempt to silence an investigation into those worker abuses.”

“Ivanka’s brand should immediately cease its work with this supplier, and the Trump administration should reverse its current course and confront China on its human rights abuses,” she added.

{mosads}The Associated Press on Tuesday reported that one man has been arrested and two others are missing after investigating working conditions at a Chinese company that makes some Ivanka Trump-brand shoes.

The trio was working with China Labor Watch, a New York-based nonprofit that was reportedly planning to publish a report next month alleging low pay and excessive overtime use by the company.

AP reported that Hua Haifeng was arrested and accused of illegal surveillance, while China Labor Watch said it lost touch with Li Zhao and Su Heng last weekend.

The group were probing Ganzhou Huajian International Shoe City Co.’s in China’s Jiangxi province, which is owned by parent company Huajian Group.

AP reported that the three men had already documented excessive overtime and a below minimum wage at the Chinese company.

Li Qiang, China Labor Watch’s director, told the AP that Su had been working undercover at the Jiangxi factory since April.

The Huajian Group said it makes 10,000 to 20,000 pairs of shoes for Ivanka Trump’s brand annually. The Ivanka Trump brand reportedly produces 20 million pairs of shoes each year.