Brickmakers accused of forcing hundreds of abducted youths [8 years old and up] to work in harsh conditions

Child slavery revelations shock China | By Howard W. French | New York Times News Service | Published June 16, 2007

Brickmakers accused of forcing hundreds of abducted youths to work in harsh conditions
...
This story is one of hundreds like it that have swept China in recent days in an unfolding scandal that involves the kidnapping in central China of hundreds of children, perhaps more, some reportedly as young as 8, who have been forced to work under brutal conditions. They are scantily clothed, unpaid and often fed little more than water and steamed buns in the brick kilns of Shanxi province. There have also been reports of adults forced to work under similar circumstances.

As the story spread across China, played prominently in newspaper headlines and on the Internet, a hunt was announced for Heng Tinghan, the foreman of a kiln where 31 of the workers were recently rescued. ...