On May, 24, 2007, China Labour Bulletin published its second survey of the workers’ movement in China. The 55,000 character report covers the period from 2005-2006 and provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of all major events and developments in Chinese labour relations.
The report notes that Chinese society presented a confused and muddled picture to the outside world in 2005-6. While the government strived to build a “harmonious society,” virtually everyday in towns and cities across the country, citizens from all levels of society staged mass protests. While the official All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) called for migrant workers to join the union, millions of migrant workers took to the streets, relying on their own collective power to demand their rights.
Since its inception in 1994, China Labour Bulletin has consistently followed and monitored the development of the labour movement in China. And In 2005-6 we documented all relevant cases of workers’ collective action which now form the basis this report. The report describes the government’s attempts to widen the social security net and strengthen protection of migrant workers’ rights, and its desire to “safeguard social justice.” It also discusses the Chinese workers’ autonomous civil rights movement and the ACFTU’s promised undertaking to protect the interests of workers. It notes that workers do not at present have the right to organise genuine unions or the right to collective bargaining, and that despite the government’s fine sounding words and policies deigned to create a “harmonious society,” thus far it has failed to bring about effective protection of workers’ rights, stabilise the relations between workers and management or act to calm social tension.
The report is divided into three parts. The first part includes background material on economic, legal and social developments in China during the survey period. The second part, based on official Chinese statistics, mainland media reports, and CLB’s own research, describes the changes in the causes, form, obstacles to and social impact of the workers’ movement during the period, and assesses the response of government at all levels to the movement. The third part describes and criticises the ACFTU’s numerous promises and limited action in protecting the rights and interests of workers.
The report is currently only available in Chinese. Click here for the Traditional Chinese version, click here for the simplified version. However, we do plan to publish the English translation in September, 2007.