Day care center suspended over child abuse

SHANGHAI -- A day care center under contract to Ctrip.com, a leading travel agency, was suspended Thursday after staff were caught on camera allegedly abusing toddlers.

Three staff of the third-party center managers in Shanghai have been detained, according to Shanghai police.

To help employees solve babysitting problems for children aged 18 months to 3 years, the minimum age to qualify for a place at a public kindergarten, Ctrip established the center in 2016, run by a third-party organization.

Video footage of staff abusing children appeared online this week to public outcry.

One clip showed a female staff member throwing a little girl's schoolbag on the floor and pushing her violently, causing her to fall and hit her head on the corner of a table.

In another video, a child cried after being forced to eat something that his parents later claimed to be mustard.

Ctrip is to provide physical check-ups and psychological support as needed for children involved. The company will also offer two-weeks paid vocation for employees who cannot find alternative childcare.

Ctrip is seeking new management for the center and will allow employees to see surveillance videos of classrooms on their mobile phones in the future.