The press conference is held in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, November 13, 2020. /CGTN
Members of the Uygur ethnic groups from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region denied the so-called "slave labor" during a press conference in Urumqi on Friday.
At least seven residents from counties in Hotan Prefecture and Turpan City – some of whom work in factories, – shared their experiences with reporters and spoke up against what they said were baseless claims in foreign media.
Ajinisa Rejiepu, a factory worker from Hotan, said she was shocked to learn that foreigners considered her factory's nursery – where she sends her two children – a facility for splitting up Muslim families.
"They have no idea about the real situation and they are talking nonsense," she said.
The press conference is held in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, November 13, 2020. /CGTN
Halidan Abudilimu, who works in a hotel in Turpan, also found the allegations in Western media groundless.
"If there was indeed slave labor in Xinjiang, could we lead such a good life today?" she asked. "Foreign reports say that rural labor are forced to leave their hometowns to work in cities, but we are willing to go to the city."
"We heard some foreigners made irresponsible remarks on our employment with the purpose of denying us a good life and prosperity. Is this 'guaranteeing our human rights'?" Rouziwake Juma, an entrepreneur, questioned.
Local residents attend the press conference, sharing their own stories. /CGTN
Sharing details about their work, they spoke of opportunities and local support.
Rejiepu said that thanks to her factory's nursery, she is able to take care of her children while working. She usually leaves them there in the morning, and picks them up after work.
"The factory hired teachers and childcare workers specially to take care of the children, and they prepare delicious dishes and fruit, as well as toys for them," she said, adding that she viewed this service as a big help for parents.
Abudilimu has been working with her husband at a hotel in Turpan since 2016. She said she started as a waitress but also received training opportunities in Hainan and Hunan and is now working to be promoted to lobby manager.
She said her family's life has dramatically changed since she and her husband found these jobs: they now earn an income of at least 80,000 yuan (about US$12,000) and aim to buy a house.
Juma, manager of a food processing factory, said the village committee helped him get a soft loan of 200,000 yuan (about US$30,000) and helped him to build the 3,600-square-meter plant.
He also said he received assistance from the local government during the COVID-19 outbreak in July to ensure his company could keep running, by opening green channels for the products and offering free nucleic acid testing for his employees.
"Now I'm fully motivated to run and develop my business so that people around me can live a better life," he said.