Laid-off workers are staging frequent protests in Taiyuan, capital of coal-rich Shanxi province, say residents.
Hundreds of people axed by a mining equipment factory held up traffic when they protested outside its main gates on Friday. 'They held up banners saying 'We want to eat, we want to live',' said a witness.
Officials at the provincial Government said yesterday they knew nothing about the protest.
Residents said there had been protests in front of the provincial party headquarters nearly every week this year.
The majority of state-owned enterprises in the city are operating at a loss. Many are unable to pay their workers and pensioners on time.
Some laid-off workers are not receiving the minimum monthly social security payment of 120 yuan (HK$111).
