A video circulating online of employees at a local factory workshop in Dongguan, South China's Guangdong Province, kneeling on the ground and slapping themselves in the face has left the public startled. Screenshot of Xuanwo Video on Sina Weibo.

A video circulating online of employees at a local factory workshop in Dongguan, South China's Guangdong Province, kneeling on the ground and slapping themselves in the face has left the public startled and resulted in the staff in question being probed by police.

The factory explained that the video was just footage of a training session, which is held regularly to motivate staff to reach their emotional "peak," Zaker News reported.

Local authorities, however, said Wednesday that the factory and the personnel in question are currently under investigation. 

In the video, employees wearing work uniforms at the furniture factory seem to be in a frenzied state. They are seen kneeling in rows, with some taking off their shirts and pounding fiercely on the ground while shouting out slogans. 

A manager at the factory told media that the "training session" was themed "building the iron army." It is held with the aim of stimulating spiritual growth and helping employees reach their "peak state."

However, netizens on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo called the event "terrifying and sick." Some even expressed concerns that the factory is brainwashing its staff like an illegal underground organization.

Global Times