Incitement of shelter hospital workers to strike, extorting compensation from dispatch companies

[4] Compiled from: Red Star News
 
Recently, Songjiang police successfully investigated and dealt with a case of epidemic-related extortion, and eight criminal suspects, including Lin (male, 24), were subjected to criminal coercive measures in accordance with the law.
 
Case review
According to a police report, on April 30, the Songjiang police received a report of a case in which Lin and others, who had only worked at a makeshift hospital for three days, incited fellow workers to “strike” under the pretext of high work intensity and poor accommodation conditions, threatened to jump off a building to force the labor dispatch company to terminate their labor contracts, and demanded more than 30,000 yuan in compensation per person. During the investigation, the police found that in mid-April, the group had obtained more than 40,000 yuan through similar compensation claims at a makeshift hospital in another district, prompting the police to launch a follow-up investigation.

 
 

Investigation revealed that the criminal suspect, surnamed Lin, confessed that he, along with Li (male, 23), and others, specifically targeted job positions at makeshift hospitals. Before entering the facilities, they conspired to work for a few days and then demand the termination of their labor contracts from the staffing agency, citing reasons such as “poor accommodation conditions and high work intensity,” while also demanding exorbitant quarantine fees. If the company refused, they resorted to extreme measures to coerce compensation. After entering the facility on April 24, they worked for only three days before starting to deliberately stir up trouble, create disturbances, and threaten the company for compensation daily, even threatening to jump off a building, until they were summoned by the police. Currently, Lin, Li, and six other criminal suspects have been subjected to criminal coercive measures by the Songjiang police in accordance with the law, and the case is under further investigation.

 
 

 
"Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China"
[5] Article 274: Crime of Extortion
Whoever extorts public or private property, if the amount is relatively large or if the extortion is committed multiple times, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, or control, and shall also, or shall only, be fined; if the amount is huge or there are other serious circumstances, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years, and shall also be fined; if the amount is especially huge or there are other especially serious circumstances, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years, and shall also be fined.
 
 
[1] The author's perspective
In this case, the extortion gang repeated the same tactic, once again inciting workers at the makeshift hospital to "strike" as a means to coerce the construction company and extort money. This not only severely hindered the construction progress but also had a serious adverse impact on epidemic prevention efforts, and is intolerable in terms of sentiment, reason, and law.
 
Currently, the entire nation is united in strict epidemic prevention, yet there are always criminals seeking to seize opportunities, exploit legal loopholes, and pursue personal gain. Apart from this incident, common examples include fraudulent calls impersonating epidemic prevention personnel, merchants and vendors inflating prices, and lawbreakers who fail to comply with epidemic prevention regulations. To prevent such illegal and criminal acts, in addition to strict crackdowns by relevant authorities, it is also necessary to enhance the public's awareness of epidemic prevention. It must be clearly understood that only by standing together can we safely get through this extraordinary period, and only by effectively maintaining epidemic prevention and control and social order can we truly protect the legitimate rights and interests of the people and ensure their personal and property safety.