A company in China has faced backlash after reports surfaced that employees were compelled to eat fire as part of a team-building exercise. The controversial practice, brought to light by a social media user named Rongrong, involved employees placing burning cotton buds in their mouths, according to the South China Morning Post.
The company, situated in Liaoning province and operating in the education sector, asserted that the activity aimed to assist staff in overcoming fear, cultivating confidence, and demonstrating their resolve. Rongrong stated that she felt pressured to participate, fearing job loss, and characterized the experience as “degrading.” She intends to file a complaint, alleging that the activity violated labor laws. Critics denounced the fire-eating exercise as an abuse of authority, with one commentator labeling it “a disguised obedience test” and advising Rongrong to resign. Another user expressed concern over worker protections, remarking that “Protecting workers under labour laws still has a long way to go.” One netizen explained that the stunt, commonly observed in acrobatics, entails extinguishing flames by rapidly closing the mouth to restrict oxygen. “Performers must control their breathing, keep their mouth moist, and time the closure precisely. Only trained professionals can do this safely,” they wrote. This is not the inaugural instance of extreme team-building practices being reported in China. In January, a company in southwestern China compelled employees to crawl along the street late at night after losing a game. In 2016, workers at a company in eastern China were forced to kiss garbage bins and embrace strangers in public to “boost their courage.” Chen Pingfan, a lawyer from Hunan Furong Law Firm, urged employees to pursue legal remedies and leverage media exposure to combat disrespectful workplace conduct