Workers who staged a protest at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. outlets in China have allegedly reported back to work after the company agreed to consider their protests against a new work scheduling system.

Around 70 Wal-Mart employees in China started a wildcat strike at the beginning of this month to express their concern about a new flexible scheduling system. The staff refused to go to work last week, and instead, they protested outside Wal-Mart stores in the cities of Nanchang, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Harbin.

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The employees claim that Wal-Mart demanded them to work on 11-hour shifts during weekends and as little as four hours on weekdays. The workers expressed concern that this could be used to cut overtime pay and interfere in their chances of finding a second job.

Some also claimed that the workload is too heavy, revealing that "all employees felt it was too difficult and were very unhappy."

Store managers reportedly presented the new scheduling system in May and urged workers to sign a new contract authorizing the amendment. Under China's policy, full-time employees are subject to two-year contracts.

Employees were given the option. However, if they opt to stick with their old agreement, they were warned that they would receive a smaller pay since meal subsidies, and other payments would be removed, the Business Insider reported.

Meanwhile, Wal-Mart said on Thursday that it introduced the new working schedule system in July across various Chinese outlets. The company claims that a majority of its employees have accepted the new policy.

According to China Labour Bulletin, the strikes ended because Wal-Mart's management agreed to consider the workers' demand within a week. However, Wal-Mart China has refused to comment and confirm if they are indeed open for negotiations.  

TagsWal-Mart, Wal-Mart China, wildcat strikes, labor strike, Nanchang, Labor union