Clashes broke out Sunday in Bacu, Romania, when nearly 200 female workers from China protested against the low wages they are paid in a local textile factory, Mediafax news agency reported.

The workers, who were 'armed with spoons and forks', had stormed the owner's office, the report said, citing the owner.

The workers had demanded their current wages of 35 dollars be doubled as the Chinese company which had mediated the work in Romania demanded a fee amounting to 25 per cent of their wages.

The managing director Sorin Nicolesuc ruled out raising their wages.

He would report the workers to the police and send them back to their homeland and he had already recruited 1,000 workers through another company in China, he added.

The factory in Bacu has employed Chinese women since last June. However, hiring foreign workers in Romania is not widespread. Nevertheless, there is an acute lack of skilled labour especially in the textile and building industries as many Romanians have emigrated to the west.