UNI World Congress - Chicago 2005
Chinese companies must guarantee their employees the same rights under international labour conventions as those enjoyed in the west, according to the UNI World Congress. International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards must be observed, claimed Simon Dubbins from Amicus (UK), "It cannot be acceptable that China can enter the World Trade Organisation, can encourage and receive massive foreign investment, while at the same time shackling Chinese workers with restrictive labour laws."The assembled delegates accepted a motion calling for enhanced engagement with Chinese colleagues to develop free, democratic and effective trade unions. UNI demanded that Chinese unions be able to defend their members' interests, participate in collective bargaining and build international links to avoid isolation.With average growth of some 9p.c. and an economy predicted to be larger than that of the US within twenty years, the pressing nature of the task is all too evident. "China is clearly emerging as an economic superpower", Dubbins said, "Chinese workers need and deserve the protections of basic labour rights."

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