A promise has been made by Wal-Mart chiefs that
they'll?help China's top trade union authority establish
unions in all of their outlets across the country.
Wal-Mart executives made the commitment during visits to
branches of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) in
Shenzhen and Nanjing where a total of five Wal-Mart unions have
been formed.
A statement released by Wal-Mart on Wednesday said the company
would cooperate closely with the ACFTU in setting up trade unions
in all its 60 Chinese outlets.
Joe Hatfield, president of Wal-Mart Asia said: "I hope to
establish with the ACFTU and local branches a good relationship
that would be conducive for our employees and business development.
We think it's in line with Chinese government's efforts to build a
harmonious society."
The commitment of the world's top retail giant came as six trade
unions have been established at its Chinese outlets in the past two
weeks -- four in Shenzhen and one each in the eastern city of
Nanjing and the southeastern city of Quanzhou.
The sixth trade union was set up at 10:30 on Wednesday morning
at its Zhongshan store in Shenzhen where Wal-Mart has its China
headquarters. So far four out of the thirteen Wal-Mart outlets in
Shenzhen have established their own trade unions.
(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2006)