China's proposed labour law reform
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited several US & European companies to respond to concerns about the positions taken by industry assocations regarding China's proposed labour law reform. In particular, we sought responses to the following items:
- "China Drafts Law to Empower Unions and End Labor Abuse", David Barboza, New York Times, 13 Oct 2006
- “Behind the Great Wall of China – U.S. Corporations Opposing New Rights for Chinese Workers”, Global Labor Strategies, Oct 2006
- “Multinationals Accused of Hypocrisy over China Labour Law Reform”, Intl. Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF), 26 Oct 2006
The three industry associations highlighted in the report are: European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, and US-China Business Council. Click here for further reports about this issue & the full text of some of the industry association submissions to the Chinese Govt.
Links to a follow-up report by Global Labor Standards, including analysis of the company responses, are below.
Company responses / companies that declined to respond (as of 6 Feb 2007)
ABB has not yet provided a response
AT&T declined to respond
Carrefour declined to respond
DuPont declined to respond
Ericsson response [PDF]
General Electric response [DOC]
Google response [DOC]
Intel response [DOC]
Maersk declined to comment on the draft law specifically but referred to Maersk's Fundamental Business Principles [PDF], saying that they would apply in this case.
Microsoft stated it had no comment at this time
Nike
- ITGLWF statement: “Nike Repudiates AmCham Position on Chinese Labour Law Reform”
- Nike letter to American Chamber of Commerce in China [PDF]
Nokia response [DOC]
Procter & Gamble response [DOC]
PSA Peugeot Citroën response [DOC]
Sara Lee stated that it is no longer a member of the US-China Business Council
Shell response [DOC]
Tesco response [DOC]
Total declined to respond
UPS declined to respond
Wal-Mart declined to respond
Walt Disney response [DOC]
Follow-up report by Global Labor Strategies
"Undue Influence: Corporations Gain Ground in Battle over China's New Labor Law" - Mar 2007
commentary: "In Fear Of Chinese Democracy", Harold Meyerson, Washington Post, 4 Apr 2007. US-China Business Council response to Harold Meyerson, 5 Apr 2007.
