China's incredible shrinking factory

© Khunaspix Dreamstime.

We all know of the slowdown of growth in China – export volumes fell 15% year-on-year in March. But this article gives a new perspective, showing how a lighting factory which once employed 2,000 workers now has just 200, and rents out the rest of the space. Other firms have trimmed staff numbers by 50%, as orders fail to appear in such large volumes and labour and environmental laws are tightened – at a cost to manufacturers.