Has the Guangdong ruling that has thwarted Huawei’s dubious HR strategy also affected Carrefour? Is this particular ruling binding only in the Guangdong or would it be deemed enforceable throughout China?

Also, you mention that Chinese employees’ rights are still lacking compared to the West, can you give examples of this?

John – I believe the point of their argument was that the LCL did not have a drastic affect on properly run companies. Companies were forced out of business because the LCL made it more difficult to operate illegally. Unfortunately, poor business ethics does not preclude a successful business strategy.

A recent social compliance and factory audit conducted by one of our auditor shows that. There is one garment factory in WUXI who not only hire people under age, but more than 12 hours / day working hours make them sooooo exhausted especially while the working condition really sucks. Did they follow the rules? NO, they completely broken most labor laws. and guess what they said to our auditor after the audit ? They asked us to tell the vendor that's how they work and that's why they sell the product cheap. (The vendor made small order, and i guess that's why the factory just don't care)

Factories like this one exsist everywhere in China and the truth is out there!!

Cheers

Bruce

Whilst the decision has already been taken at corporate level its not mine to dispute, just to make the most of what the new playing field is. I have not seen any collective bargaining 'rights' in the set-up documents available, Pragmatically I look at the corporate position we adopt - strict compliance with the new LCL - being consistent with the unions purpose as occuppying the space a more millitant and less business freindly 'western-style' union might want to be in.

Interestingly, I am also invited to join - though I might baulk at getting value for my 2 kuai dues - and so long as it is consistent with my employers corporate policy I see no downside to experiencing it 'from the inside'.