While many are shocked by the news of a slave trafficking ring in Shanxi 
Province, some of the victims will not be able to prosecute their traffickers 
because they are not covered by the criminal law code. 
 
 
   A rural migrant laborer, right, looks back at a passerby 
 while pulling a cart of bricks at a kiln in Caosheng Village, Hongdong 
 County in Shanxi Province in this undated photo. [Shanxi Evening 
 News/file]
   | 
Thirty one workers who were forced 
to work as 'slaves' in brick kilns in northern Shanxi province were freed by 
police, and another 217 'slaves' were rescued in neighboring Henan Province, 
Xinhua reported Thursday. 
According to the report, most of the 'slave' laborers are migrant workers who 
had been lured by human traffickers to the brick kilns and were later detained 
by the kiln owners who hired thugs to keep the detainees under tight security. 
Anyone attempting to run away would be punished by a deadly thrashing. A thug 
who worked for a kiln owner in Caosheng Village, Shanxi Province, was arrested 
by local police for allegedly beating a runway 'slave 'to death after catching 
the victim. 
Death, assault, kidnapping and illegal detention could initiate a criminal procedure in 
China, but bringing the traffickers to justice is difficult. 
"Those traffickers who lure migrant workers, mainly adult males, to do forced 
labor will not be convicted as the criminal code only covers those who traffic 
women and children," Guan Zhongzhi, a lawyer with Zhonghuan Law Firm told 
chinadaily.com.cn. 
The legal loophole has put male victims in an awkward position when fighting 
against their traffickers in the court of law. 
It is reported that a crackdown campaign was launched to strike 11 cities of 
Shanxi Province. Coal mines, brick kilns, private contractors and small-sized 
enterprises will be under scrutiny after media reports revealed that hundreds of 
children had been kidnapped and forced to work in kilns in 
Shanxi.