Measures urged to close income gap
By Fu Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-22 06:34

But both Dong's federation and the commission did not go into details about the income disparity. However, the federation also found that most enterprises are unwilling to increase workers' wages.

"For years, the wages of some workers have remained the same despite the fact that the local governments promulgated a benchmark pay increase rate in line with the economic development scenario," said Dong.

Citing that China's economy has achieved annual average growth of 9.4 per cent in the past 27 years, Dong said the slow rate in pay increase means that workers are losing out in the chance to benefit from the country's development.

"We should face up to the situation and find solutions for workers," said Dong, who is in charge of the membership fees of the 150 million trade union members nationwide.

Trade unions should work hard to make workers earn at least above the local minimum wage and keep their pay increase at the rate set by the local governments, he said.

For example, the municipal government of Beijing has set a benchmark rate of 10 per cent in wage increase for 2005. "So trade unions in Beijing should take the benchmark rate as weapons," said Dong.

Wang Zhaoguo, chairman of the federation, said 1.17 million grass-roots trade unions will be organized to bring workers and the management together to negotiate a possible increase in wages.

"We have legal weapons in our hands to protect the interests of workers," said Wang, who also works as vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

(China Daily 12/22/2005 page2)