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GLOBAL: Research released today on labour relations in China finds that most workers surveyed as part of the study at foreign invested plants in China have very little understanding of what a trade union is or its capacity to represent workers' interests.
The research also found that while working conditions at foreign invested metal sector plants are better than average factory working conditions in China, only one third of factories surveyed had a trade union present.
World Trade Organisation policies and free trade agreements are resulting in metalworkers around the world often ending up in direct or indirect competition with China. Yet worker and human rights in China do not meet international standards and independent trade unions remain illegal.
The International Metalworkers' Federation commissioned research on industrial relations and working conditions in metal sector transnational companies in China to examine the current situation.
The investigation included research into the working conditions inside 27 factories with foreign investors including Daimler Chrysler, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Toyota, Nokia, Delphi, Bosch, General Electrics, Electrolux, Panasonic and Flexitronics.
"While independent trade unions remain illegal and with a growing presence of foreign capital and multinational companies operating in China, it is urgent that further action be taken to improve the rights of workers in China," said IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi.
The research was undertaken by the Hong Kong-based Asian Monitor Research Centre, commissioned by the IMF.
The report is published in English (editions in French, Spanish and German will follow) on the IMF website at: www.imfmetal.org/chinareport
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