Leo Roars in China — Michelson

What was fascinating, though, wasn’t the brand of presses running. It was the size and scope of the Leo Paper operation, and how such an enterprise could possibly be managed. The company is still in the midst of further expansion, including a 330,000-square-foot “binding city” scheduled to open next month to accommodate its large amount of handwork finishing. Training, including computer usage, plays an important role throughout the operation. Nearly 80 percent of its workers consist of women mostly in their 20s, and all employees put in 10-hour days, six days per week. Coming from all over China, they sleep eight people to a room in the dorms (accommodations only for single people); managers are two to one room. According to management, the average assembly department worker makes the equivalent of about $200 per month and operators/technicians earn from $400 to $700. Both meals and housing are subsidized by Leo Paper.