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Main Content: US-China Business Council

US-China Business Council website: www.uschina.org

"The United States-China Business Council, Inc. (USCBC) is a private, non-profit, non-partisan, member-supported organization. It is the principal organization of US corporations engaged in business relations with the People's Republic of China...Council membership in 2006 currently stands at about 250 firms."

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Title: China due to enact new labor law after heated debate

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Visit: China due to enact new labor law after heated debate

Author: Associated Press
Dated: 27 Jun 2007

The law...would set standards for labor contracts, use of temporary workers and severance pay...In April 2006, the government published the first draft of the law and...received more than 190,000 responses from workers and...companies...
Foreign business groups expressed alarm at proposed restrictions on firing workers, limits on use of temporary workers and a provision giving the All-China Federation of Trade Unions — the umbrella group for unions permitted by the communist government — a voice in staffing decisions...Labor activists reacted angrily to the foreign lobbying. The U.S.-based group Global Labor Strategies dubbed companies involved the "sweatshop lobby" and accused them of pushing Beijing to "weaken or abandon significant pro-worker reforms." Apparently stung by that criticism, the European Chamber of Commerce in China backed away from earlier criticism of the law..." The business comments appear to have prompted Beijing to remove the most contentious provisions. The third draft of the law...no longer requires approval from the official labor body to fire workers...The ACFTU often is regarded not as an advocate for better pay and working conditions for employees but as an intermediary that represents employers to workers..."As these new laws are enforced," [Ronald Brown, a specialist in Chinese law at the University of Hawaii,] said, "the labor union is likely going to have to accept a larger role as an adversary and an advocate, negotiating better conditions for its members."

Title: [PDF] The Chinese draft contract law - a global debate [scroll to pg. 12]

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Visit: [PDF] The Chinese draft contract law - a global debate [scroll to pg. 12]

Author: Hélène Ahlberger Le Deunff, in CSR Asia
Dated: 25 Apr 2007

The responses of European and US industry associations to the draft Chinese labour contract law stirred up a great deal of controversy around the world...As labour activists rightly point out, the image of multinationals as it emerges from the debate is in clear contradiction with the principles of corporate social responsibility that they have been advocating for years. The answers submitted by foreign multinationals to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre are interesting in this regard. Significantly, companies such as Intel, Ericsson, PSA Peugeot-Citroën and Nike answer by mentioning their CSR engagement and efforts.

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Visit: A Friend to China's Workers

Author: John Frisbie, US-China Business Council, letter to the editor in Washington Post

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Visit: False Representation?

Author: Global Labor Strategies
Dated: 24 Apr 2007

Title: False Representation?

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Visit: False Representation?

Author: Global Labor Strategies
Dated: 24 Apr 2007

In a statement posted on its website...the US-China Business Council (USCBC) alleges that “...Global Labor Strategies has repeatedly mischaracterized the...USCBC position on China's proposed new Labor Contract Law”... In a letter to the Washington Post April 17 it charges GLS with “misrepresentation.” On the contrary, it is the USCBC that is misrepresenting GLS. [refers to McDonald's, Yum Brands (owner of KFC, Pizza Hut)]

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Visit: A Friend to China's Workers

Author: John Frisbie, US-China Business Council, letter to the editor in Washington Post

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Visit: [PDF] The Chinese draft contract law - a global debate [scroll to pg. 12]

Author: Hélène Ahlberger Le Deunff, in CSR Asia
Dated: 25 Apr 2007

Title: In Fear Of Chinese Democracy

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Visit: In Fear Of Chinese Democracy

Author: [opinion column] Harold Meyerson, Washington Post
Dated: 03 Apr 2007

Listen to the apostles of free trade, and you'll learn that once consumer choice comes to authoritarian regimes, democracy is sure to follow... As a theory of revolution, [this] rule leaves a lot to be desired. Shanghai is swimming in Starbucks, yet...the [Chinese] regime soldiers on... Which is why the conduct of America's corporate titans in China is so disquieting. There, since March of last year, the government has been considering a labor law that promises a smidgen of increase in workers' rights... [The] American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and the U.S.-China Business Council embarked on a major campaign to kill these tepid reforms... In its public comments on the proposed law, [General Electric] declared that it strongly preferred "consultation" with workers to "securing worker representative approval" on a range of its labor practices. Based on a second draft of the law, completed in December, it looks like American businesses have substantially prevailed. [also refers to American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai members Microsoft, Dell, Ford]

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Visit: A Friend to China's Workers

Author: John Frisbie, US-China Business Council, letter to the editor in Washington Post

Title: China's proposed labour law reform: concerns about US & European industry association lobbying; company responses & non-responses

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Visit: China's proposed labour law reform: concerns about US & European industry association lobbying; company responses & non-responses

Author: Compiled by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Dated: updated 28 Mar 2007

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited several US & European companies to respond to concerns about the positions taken by industry associations regarding China's proposed labour law reform.
[As of 27 Mar 2007:
- The following companies provided responses (accessible via this page): Ericsson, General Electric, Google, Intel, Nike, Nokia, Procter & Gamble, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Shell, Tesco, Walt Disney
- ABB has said it will provide a response but has not yet done so
- Microsoft has said it does not wish to respond at this time
- The following companies declined to respond: AT&T, Carrefour, DuPont, Maersk, Total, UPS, Wal-Mart
- Sara Lee stated that it is no longer a member of the US-China Business Council]

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Visit: Chinese Labor Rights Debated

Author: Tim Costello, Brendan Smith, Jeremy Brecher, Catherine Gelb, Global Movement Strategies
Dated: 26 Feb 2007

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Visit: New GLS Report: Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law

Author: Global Labor Strategies
Dated: 26 Mar 2007

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Visit: China Drafts Law to Empower Unions and End Labor Abuse

Author: David Barboza, New York Times
Dated: 13 Oct 2006

Title: New GLS Report: Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law

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Visit: New GLS Report: Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law

Author: Global Labor Strategies
Dated: 26 Mar 2007

A new report by Global Labor Strategies...details how lobbying by American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham), the United States-China Business Council, and U.S.-based global corporations have forced significant changes in contract, collective bargaining, severance, and other rights guaranteed for Chinese workers under a law to be voted on later this year... Undue Influence reveals that while publicly claiming to support the new legislation, companies like Wal-Mart, Microsoft, Google, General Electric and others have launched an unpublicized new attack demanding further gutting of the law's most important provisions... Nike has virtually repudiated the efforts of the United States Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham) to lobby against the law.

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Visit: [PDF] full report: "Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law"

Author: Global Labor Strategies
Dated: Mar 2007

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Visit: [PDF] Appendices to Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China’s New Labor Law

Author: Global Labor Strategies
Dated: Mar 2007

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Visit: China's proposed labour law reform: concerns about US & European industry association lobbying; company responses & non-responses

Author: Compiled by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Dated: updated 28 Mar 2007

Title: [PDF] full report: "Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law"

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Visit: [PDF] full report: "Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law"

Author: Global Labor Strategies
Dated: Mar 2007

Corporations operating in China are claiming success in pressuring the Chinese government to weaken or abandon significant pro-worker reforms it had proposed... Now both the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham) and the US-China Business Council have launched an unpublicized new attack demanding further weakening of the law... Nike has virtually repudiated the efforts of the United States Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham) to lobby against the law. And the E.U. Chamber of Commerce has reversed its opposition to the law and renounced its threat that its member companies may leave China... [analyses company responses to previous Global Labor Strategies report from Ericsson, General Electric, Google, Intel, Nokia, Procter & Gamble, Shell, Tesco; highlights refusal to respond by AT&T, Carrefour, UPS, Wal-Mart; also refers to American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai members Dell, Ford, Microsoft]

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Visit: New GLS Report: Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law

Author: Global Labor Strategies
Dated: 26 Mar 2007

Title: [PDF] Appendices to Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China’s New Labor Law

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Visit: [PDF] Appendices to Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China’s New Labor Law

Author: Global Labor Strategies
Dated: Mar 2007

- "Appendix A: Voices from China" [includes comments by Chinese citizens on draft law]...
- "Appendix B: Corporate responses to Chinese Labor Law Controversy" [analyses responses to previous Global Labor Strategies report by Ericsson, General Electric, Google, Intel, Nike, Nokia, Procter & Gamble, PSA Peugeot-Citroën, Shell, Tesco; lists non-responding companies: AT&T, Carrefour, DuPont, Maersk (part of A.P. Moller - Maersk), Microsoft, Total, UPS, Wal-Mart, Walt Disney (which has since responded), ABB]...
- "Appendix C: October 31, 2006 Congressional Letter to President George Bush" [signed by 27 members of US Congress]...
- "Appendix D: United States-China Business Council Critique of GLS and GLS’s Reply"

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Visit: New GLS Report: Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law

Author: Global Labor Strategies
Dated: 26 Mar 2007

Title: [PDF] Labor Issues and Corporate Responsibility in China

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Visit: [PDF] Labor Issues and Corporate Responsibility in China

Author: US-China Business Council
Dated: 26 Feb 2007

Labor conditions in China have been the subject of recent press articles and political discussion. The enclosed articles, taken from past issues of the USCBC’s flagship publication, the China Business Review, help to place these issues in context. The articles address aspects of labor conditions in China and US business efforts to ensure appropriate labor and related conditions in Chinese production facilities. USCBC welcomes comments on these subjects and others of current interest in US-China relations. [refers to Nike, Adidas-Salomon, Reebok, Sears, Gap]

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Visit: Chinese Labor Rights Debated

Author: Tim Costello, Brendan Smith, Jeremy Brecher, Catherine Gelb, Global Movement Strategies
Dated: 26 Feb 2007

Title: Chinese Labor Rights Debated

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Visit: Chinese Labor Rights Debated

Author: Tim Costello, Brendan Smith, Jeremy Brecher, Catherine Gelb, Global Movement Strategies
Dated: 26 Feb 2007

A recent report by Global Labor Strategies asserts that U.S.-based global corporations—including Wal-Mart, Google, UPS, Microsoft, Nike, AT&T, and Intel—have been acting through U.S. business organizations, including the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and the U.S.-China Business Council, to oppose legislation that would grant new rights to Chinese workers...Japan Focus presents the commentary [by the report authors in Foreign Policy in Focus], the response from the U.S.-China Business Council spokesperson, and the authors' follow-up.

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Visit: [PDF] Labor Issues and Corporate Responsibility in China

Author: US-China Business Council
Dated: 26 Feb 2007

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Visit: China's proposed labour law reform: concerns about US & European industry association lobbying; company responses & non-responses

Author: Compiled by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Dated: updated 28 Mar 2007

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre: US-China Business Council

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Title: China due to enact new labor law after heated debate

Title: [PDF] The Chinese draft contract law - a global debate [scroll to pg. 12]

List item: 1

List item: 2

Title: False Representation?

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Title: In Fear Of Chinese Democracy

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Title: China's proposed labour law reform: concerns about US & European industry association lobbying; company responses & non-responses

List item: 1

List item: 2

List item: 3

Title: New GLS Report: Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law

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List item: 3

Title: [PDF] full report: "Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law"

List item: 1

Title: [PDF] Appendices to Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China’s New Labor Law

List item: 1

Title: [PDF] Labor Issues and Corporate Responsibility in China

List item: 1

Title: Chinese Labor Rights Debated

List item: 1

List item: 2

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