China is economically on the rise. More and more products are made in China, the Chinese schools and universities are providing each other enormous quantities of new, skilled workers. But the democracy in China is not quite there yet.

China does not have a independent, democratic trade union. The only one is the state union ACTFU, the All China Federation of Trade Unions. There is no compulsory membership for employees, but if employees want to negotiate working terms and working conditions they have to join the ACTFU.

Over the last few years Dutch companies have invested a great deal in China. They have built and taken over factories and offices. The quality of production in these companies is often of a higher level than in the Netherlands, but what about the level of social rights? Do employees have the same rights within these companies as Dutch employees for example? Can Dutch multinationals invest in improving the rights and working conditions of their employees and those in the supply chain? FNV Bondgenoten thinks they can.

In 2006 we went to China for the first time with a delegation employees from Dutch multinationals, and made contact with several representatives of Chinese employees. Together we try to get the Dutch multinationals to do just that little bit extra, than what is recommended by the Chinese law. We also show Chinese employees and union members how union work takes place within our companies. Not because we have all the right answers, but to show the possibilities that exist.