The Herald Catholic Weekly article on the new Chinese working class willing to commit suicide rather than bend to oppression is a classic case of how a national autocratic political system works hand-in-hand with the neo-liberal economic system in China to deprive the Chinese working class of their humanity.

Foxconn has seen 11 suicides this year due to inhuman working conditions such as 12-hour shifts, a ban on speaking with colleagues, sitting and disputing superiors direct orders. This unbalanced condition is made worse by the absence of unions representing the working class.

The Communist regime in China has embarked on a pro-growth economic development route since the opening up of the Chinese economy in the late seventies. In fact, it has basically adopted a neo-liberal economic system modelled on the Washington consensus which made China the darling of Western multinational corporations which are prevented from exploiting workers by the democratic system in their home countries.

This makes China an attractive destination for multinational companies looking for low-cost labour and maximum profit with no accountability. The Chinese Communist party offers a perfect environment for such inhuman conditions. And even though Foxconn has increased its wages after the suicide incidents, it does not resolve the core problem of inhumane conditions that deprive human beings of their dignity and creativity.

True progress in any human endeavour starts with the recognition that human beings are spiritual beings with great potential to develop in a management environment that is supportive and taps into the convictions of people, not factors of production controlled by a dominant autocratic management system.

The suicides of the Chinese workers in this company proves a rejection of such a system. The fact remains that the US and China collaborate reasonably well in the global economic system. Even though there are hiccups on currency and price issues, there is a common understanding that the neo-liberal economic system should prevail at all costs, as long as it does not affect China’s internal political affairs.

Therefore, the Foxconn tragedy is a clear example of how normal human beings are oppressed within a complex web of steel called neo-liberalism. This system is thriving within the national and global autocratic political environment, which can be seen in the subtle relationship between the big powers.

It gives me hope to see that human rights groups at national and global levels are able expose the dark side of this complex system that treat human beings as mere robots. The truth is, granting a human being freedom leads to creativity in any economic endeavour and this, in turn, leads to genuine economic development.

If China is serious about developing its country, it should create an egalitarian system of common prosperity that respects the human dignity – which is derived from its own great philosophical traditions – and respects the spiritual aspiration of its people.