Trade unions must represent workers, not local authorities

Chinese job seekers queue up at the recruiting center of Foxconn owned by Hon Hai Precision Industry in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, 28 July 2014. [Photo/IC]

The All-China Federation of Trade Unions published 10 cases of companies violating workers' rights. It especially criticized Foxconn, the largest device manufacturer in the world and one of the main iPhone and iPad manufacturers, for "arranging extra hours for workers" over long periods, which resulted in psychological problems, even suicides. Comments:

The Labor Law has been revised several times and every time the protection of workers' rights is strengthened. However, many local authorities tend to take the side of companies that pay large amounts of tax, and turn a blind eye when the companies demand additional hours from their workers against their will. That's why violation of workers' rights has become so rampant. We expect the situation to improve with the realization of the rule of law.

Beijing Youth Daily, Feb 4

What has the union for Foxconn workers been doing? Had it performed its role, the problems in Foxconn wouldn't have led to 16 suicides in 2010. Workers in many companies say that the unions hardly do anything other than send them small gifts at festivals; the ACFTU as the chief organization of workers needs to intervene and propel changes.

Wang Gangqiao, a legal scholar and commentator, Feb 4

Labor unions are supposed to help workers, but in reality they always fail in this duty. Worse, some of them even suppress workers' efforts to defend their rights. The root problem is almost all labor unions are organized by the local authorities, which share interests with companies; the heads of the unions, instead of being elected by workers, are also appointed by the authorities.

Li Chang'an, a professor on management at the University of International Business and Economics, Feb 4

Foxconn responded to the criticism from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions by stating that its workers are well cared for. These words would be powerful if they came from the workers themselves; but as the claim of the management, they are rather pale. In this debate between the national labor union and a giant company, the workers' voices should not be omitted.

Beijing Times, Feb 4