Today I read Lenin’s article on factory fines, which resonated with me, so I decided to start a post to record my work situation. When I usually consider the capitalist’s demand that workers must not be absent without leave, I don’t find it unusual, but Lenin’s comparison of this with the restricted conditions of criminals makes it very clear that the capitalist’s attitude towards workers is essentially the same as a violent state’s attitude towards criminals, viewing workers entirely as slaves subject to the capitalist’s forceful control.
First, let me talk about recent developments. As the New Year approaches, the capitalists arranged for holidays but cunningly did not specify the exact duration. During the holiday, naturally, there was no income. This is actually unreasonable; if a worker does not go to work for personal reasons, the capitalist can naturally refuse to pay wages based on the principle of equivalent exchange. However, since the capitalist has signed a contract to hire the worker and has bought out the worker’s labor for the day, and since the shutdown or holiday is not at the worker’s will but because the capitalist cannot use the worker’s labor due to operational issues, the capitalist should pay the worker the corresponding wages.
Additionally, I asked in the company group whether the wages could be paid before the New Year, and he classically agreed happily, saying “No problem on my side,” passing the issue to his second-in-command, who is always scheming against him. The second-in-command then said wages could definitely be paid before the New Year, but then pretended to disappear. Although some colleagues also expressed a desire to receive their wages early, it seemed completely useless. Because there is so little struggle, the wage payments are getting later and later, now defaulting from the 20th of next month to the early morning of the 1st of the following month.
Yes, it feels like the capitalist exploitation in the middle repair sector has reached a level akin to sweatshops or even prisons. Workers can only maintain a life revolving around dormitories, factories, and canteens, enduring great suffering on the assembly line, working 12 hours with only 2 days off per month, sometimes not even taking a break. Salaries are normally paid on the 15th. Workers nominally have freedom, but in reality, it is just a freedom of being exploited and oppressed. When it comes to demanding wages and fighting for their rights, where is the freedom to speak of?
In developed areas with many struggles, the salary for the previous month might be paid on the 15th of the next month, while in some underdeveloped places, the salary for the previous month is already paid by the end of the next month.
This morning I was called by my supervisor to work in the afternoon, but currently it is just basic operation. At this moment, the supervisor bought explosives to bribe department employees, adhering to the idea of reclaiming remaining value, and ate some. Afterwards, I managed to get some things back from the company.
However, another person with the same position as me did not come, I don’t know what the situation is, suspecting that variable capital has been cut.
I forgot to mention that yesterday I didn’t really want to help the supervisor clean the equipment, so I sat in the office. When I saw the other person busy with something at the end of the experiment, I felt it wouldn’t be good to just walk away, so I helped a bit. Well, today there were more experiments, so my rebellious nature kicked in and I worked hard. However, the supervisor reminded me that just doing the normal work was fine, which was a bit hard to handle, sigh.
Also, I looked at some new jobs, but I don’t know if there will be a chance to go or enter a factory or something, so I need to consider.
What type of work is the original poster doing
Textile testing
Today, the supervisor said that the police station might come to check the laboratory safety again, and the middle repair relies on this to make money, indeed. If you don’t obediently pay, you’ll get trouble from these small capitalists. Yesterday, I forgot to mention that the hydrochloric acid evaporation made my throat a bit uncomfortable.
Will this job often involve contact with harmful substances?
Indeed, treating samples with various chemical reagents
Are there no protective measures? Have you tried to fight or minimize contact with toxic detection?
There is indeed a gas mask, but I’ve always found it troublesome and didn’t wear it much, mainly because I am a high-quality cow and horse, so I was used more 
Is it the kind of thing where you work hard during regular hours? Will it push others away, and eventually push yourself out as well?
Uh uh, although I can also do it slowly, it affects my phone watching, so I want to finish it all at once, which is a bit contradictory. This position normally only has two people, it’s a small production, but currently I don’t know why the other person hasn’t come yet.
The local area might no longer be working at your company.
I learned that he seems to be unemployed at home. On Saturday, I took a day off and asked the supervisor to let him come over. He also said that just one day isn’t good for calculating wages, which is a bit awkward.
How have you been recently with work? Has anything happened that made you feel conflicted? How has the workload been lately? Is the dog capitalist still making you test all the toxic reagents?
Somewhat busy and forgot to update, recently there have been talks from capitalists about how orders are few in January and February, and they still have to pay rent and utilities, so they don’t issue performance bonuses, claiming it’s because they can’t recover customers’ payments, amounting to hundreds of thousands. Last year, there were clients who ran away. I asked why we cooperate with such clients, and the supervisor said that high-quality clients have been snatched by other companies, so we can only take low-quality clients. I said if you can’t afford to start a company, then don’t, and what does the boss’s lack of money have to do with me?
Actually, this is easier to handle, but I don’t know how to get the money back without quitting, maybe I can do it after I leave. But considering my health, if I change jobs, I might not pass the physical exam, which could lead to unemployment, so I feel I should keep working for now, which is quite frustrating.
Recently, the workload isn’t heavy, more like slacking off, and I still handle the toxic reagents.
Yesterday, it was mentioned that capitalists want to hire interns again, only 2500 yuan per month, for emergency use when things get busy.
There’s also talk about overtime and compensatory leave, but it can only be used when idle, which is actually flexible employment, making it sound so good for employees. They also said that in the recent period, they will implement rotating shifts to ensure that experiments are done on Sundays, and no orders should be missed. They also said that when things get busy, Sunday rest will be restored, but by then, they won’t care about these sporadic orders, which is truly laughable.
How is the performance calculated? Is performance a large part of your regular salary? I’m not very familiar with this. Small companies like this will only try to squeeze employees
What attitude do your colleagues have towards this matter? Maybe you can communicate and investigate, and join others to challenge it. However, I don’t know their situation for now, maybe you can ask.
Regarding the issue of passing your health check, this might indeed affect your job search, but don’t be too pessimistic. Perhaps you can try to confirm whether the health check will be a barrier when applying for jobs. Even if you stay at your current factory, you can persist and fight to change the environment.
It feels like this is not good, is there a Confucian idea at play, wanting to be a good person and not wanting to refuse others anymore? What does the original poster think, why stop this kind of toxic reagent work?