A strike at an IBM Corp factory in southern Guangdong province entered its fifth day on Friday as more than 1,000 workers demanded higher severance payments ahead of a Lenovo Group Ltd takeover.

Workers were protesting the factory's decision to announce a severance plan without seeking their input and forcing them to make a decision on short notice.

A banner displayed at the factory gate read: "We are not products, not assets and not slaves, please do not sell us out."