It is clear that China seeks to increase cooperation with international labor unions and the larger union movement as a whole. In the opening ceremony, Wang Zhaoguo, president of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), said that all trade unions, big or small, should promote justice and fairness on the basis of independence, mutual respect, equality and democratic consultations. Topics discussed at the forum included: migrant worker rights, the coordination of labor relations, and the international trade union movement
While the economy of China has flourished, worker in the coastal areas have not reaped a fair share for the fruits of their labor. There is an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. Most workers are overworked, underpaid and do not enjoy social security benefits or health insurance. In time, if these issues are not addressed and continue to worsen, they will endanger China’s economic growth.
With increasing globalization and its effects, the Chinese government has realized it must play a greater role if it wants to preserve stability and prevent the formation of independent labor unions. Having independent labor unions would greatly affect the Communist Party’s ability to govern. In order to prevent independent labor unions from forming, the government seeks to create a harmonious relationship between enterprises and the workers. In its efforts to promote social stability, the ACFTU is seeking to gain more influence over multinationals operating within China.
China Labor Watch welcomes ACFTU’s increased willingness to shine a spotlight on critical labor issues and take an increased role in the international labor movement. China should take this opportunity to work with other developing countries, such as the Philippines, India, Vietnam and Indonesia. Increasingly, China needs to collaborate with these countries because they all rely on low-cost labor forces to compete in the globalized marketplace. While rich countries gain from this competition, ultimately it is the workers in the developing countries that pay the price.
We certainly look forward to the day that the ACFTU is able to represent workers and advocate for their needs in a democratic manner. However, until that is the case, there is a great need for the involvement of labor NGOs and independent labor unions, which are currently forbidden, that will voice the growing needs and aspirations of workers.