| Trade unions important to China
2003-09-23
China Daily
lmost every Chinese resident has heard of a trade union, but few could tell
you what it is really about. And it's not only in jest if someone says that the
major function of a trade union is organizing outings or giving free film
tickets to its members.
But now, more and more people, especially
industrial workers, are coming to realize that trade unions could bring them
much more benefits than merely giving them free film tickets, at a time when
these unions have a louder voice in settling labour disputes and protecting
members' rights and interests.
As the 14th National Congress of the
All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the only legitimate umbrella trade union
in China, opened yesterday, workers nationwide are expecting that the congress
will further heighten the role of trade unions in an increasingly
market-oriented economy.
For nearly 30 years after New China was founded
in 1949, the country has adopted a strict pattern of planned economy, under
which workers enjoyed from-cradle-to-grave benefits provided by the government,
including free housing and medical care.
There were not even particularly
great differences in wages between a worker and a factory manager, hence labour
disputes have seldom occurred.
Since the late 1970s, China has ushered in
the policy of reform and opening-up, with the planned economy gradually giving
way to a market-oriented one, under which even State-owned enterprises have to
compete for survival.
Meanwhile, private and overseas-funded enterprises
are mushrooming across the country.
As market competition intensified,
many State-owned enterprises were shut down or restructured, resulting in laying
off a large number of workers. Official figures indicated that workers in
State-owned enterprises now only account for a quarter of the country's labour
force.
And in private or overseas-funded enterprises, the infringements
on worker's rights and interests are also increasing.
"It is natural that
more and more labour disputes occur as managers and workers are pursuing maximum
profits respectively and benefits of their own," said Zhao Jianjie, a professor
with the Beijing-based China Labour College.
"Under such circumstances,
trade unions could play a unique role in helping settle labour disputes and
maintaining social stability."
Figures also show that since its l3th
National Congress in 1998, Chinese trade unions have done a great deal to
protect members' rights and interests and streamline labour
relations.
The trade unions have strongly advocated and participated in
the drafting of 1,264 laws and regulations on protecting workers' rights and
interests, including laws on trade unions, safe production techniques and labour
contracts.
More than 2,000 grassroots trade unions nationwide have set up
legal service agencies to help members settle labour disputes with their
employers.
Trade unions at various levels have also established more than
6,000 centres for vocational training, and helped over 3 million laid-off
workers get re-employed.
Meanwhile, the number of grass-roots trade
unions has jumped to 1.7 million from 510,000, with trade union members surging
to 134 million from no more than 1 million.
Zhao said that the government
has realized the importance of trade unions ever since the beginning of
market-oriented reform, and has taken various measures to support
them.
However, Chinese trade unions are facing formidable challenges
ahead, and they must learn how to best protect workers' rights and interests
under changed conditions, especially since China has joined the World Trade
Organization.
"One of the effective ways is to push the reform of the
operation systems of trade unions," he said, explaining that union leaders are
receiving wages from their employers, which could neutralize their role in
settling labour disputes.
"I hope the coming 14th National Congress will
find a better way to improve the work of trade unions, especially in protecting
the rights and interests of the members," he said.
At a preparatory
meeting for the congress earlier this month, the All-China Federation of Trade
Unions Chairman Wang Zhaoguo also urged trade unions nationwide to give top
priority to protecting the rights and interests of workers, noting that it is
their top responsibility.  |
