BIZCHINA / Top Biz News |
70% target for unions in foreign companiesBy Guan Xiaofeng (China Daily)Updated: 2007-01-05 08:45 The All-China Federation of Trade Unions has set an ambitious target of
having trade unions set up in more than 70 per cent of foreign-funded
enterprises this year.
Employees in some multinationals such as Carrefour, McDonald's, Motorola and Nescafe soon followed suit. Between July and September, all the 64 Wal-Mart stores in 30 cities established trade unions with the help of the federation, recruiting more than 6,000 members. It is for the first time the US retail giant allowed its staff to form unions anywhere in the world. "China's Law of Trade Union gives workers the rights to set up or join trade unions," Wang said. "Foreign enterprises must abide by China's laws if they do business in China." According to the law, which was promulgated in 1992, trade unions are formed by employees on a voluntary basis. No organization or individual shall obstruct or restrict them from joining unions. Wang admitted the federation has met with resistance from some companies, which subtly obstruct workers from setting up unions.
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