ABC news: Dark side of China's economic miracle

China's economic miracle is fuelling vicious labour practices - highlighted by a scandal over brick kiln slaves - that officials are actively supporting, rights activists say. State media reported this week that 532 slaves have now been freed from brick kilns and illegal mines in Shanxi and Henan, including more than 50 under the age of 18, some as young as eight. In recent months, both the "enslavement" of 100 migrants and the existence of labour camps in north-eastern Heilongjiang escaped serious punishment, Xinhua reported. Child labourCLB is due to publish a report in coming weeks on the use of child labour, based on interviews with more than 100 children, parents, workers and teachers in three Chinese provinces.