Beijing, Aug 25: China's government-backed apex trade union has stepped up pressure on Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, to establish trade unions for thousands of its employees in the country. The All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), backed by the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), claims the US-based retail giant had ignored repeated efforts by its staff to talk to the company about setting up trade unions.
"We have contacted Wal-Mart several times since its branch store opened in Beijing in July, but no progress has been made in establishing trade unions," ACFTU officials said.
According to ACFTU officials, they were told by Wal-Mart, which has not set up trade unions in any of its branches in China, that the company had established effective channels to resolve labour disputes and there were no trade unions in its United States stores either.
At present Wal-Mart has 28 units covering 12 cities nation-wide which includes Shenzhen, Kunming, Fuzhou, Dalian, Xiamen, Shantou, Dongguan, Harbin, Changchun and Beijing.

Bureau Report