As the reputed "workshop of the world," with companies beginning to invest in other markets and economies, China has also become the focus of the workers in much of the rest of the world who are now moving to establish a more extensive dialogue with their Chinese counterparts on issues from the shopfloor to more strategic issues.

Contacts with the All-China Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ACFTU) have been initiated and were a major element of discussion during an international workshop of unionists and other specialists in Brussels recently that discussed efforts aimed at Western multinational companies operating in China. The three-day meeting was organised and hosted by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and attended by numerous worker representatives from large international companies. The workshop on China was preceded by another broader meeting of 300 participants on the general operations of European works councils.

The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 311 national affiliates, including in most Asian countries. The ACFTU represents 180 million workers in China. While some of the relations with global workers' union organisations were suspended in the late 1980s and 1990s, some individual national unions retained contacts and more recently visits to China by European union delegations also took place.

After a review of the ITUC position last year, one senior ITUC official said that the "the majority view is that it is time for engagement" with the ACFTU. It was emphasised that the ITUC would seek in future meetings with the ACFTU possibly this year to work out cooperation on "behaviour of multinational companies" such as workers' legal rights and collective bargaining. It was hoped, he added, that a work programme could be agreed between the ITUC and ACFTU that would also cover operations in Africa and other parts of the world as well. He said the ACFTU had expressed its interest in expanding its contacts and international reputation, as demonstrated by the assignment of a representative to the UN International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva expected soon. It was also said that both AFCTU and ITUC leaders who met recently had hoped the ACFTU could also play an increasingly important role inside China in establishing better employment and social conditions sought by the government there. This hopefully should involve implementation of the new Chinese law as well as the ILO conventions and other standards, the workshop was told.

The ITUC would like to become more informed and involved with the activities of European and other Western multinationals in China through the existing structures of the European works councils. These advisory councils have been created through a 1994 EU law and already function in over 800 companies, many of which are active in China. European unions have been concerned and affected by massive corporate resctructuring which has relocated considerable production in China and other locations, without sufficient prior information and consultation with worker representatives, as called for by the EU law. Speakers complained about this lack of information and compliance and several urged greater information-sharing among Western unions, and perhaps with Chinese counterparts. Some also emphasised that the same applied to corporate operations in the US, India, the Gulf states and other locations as well.

Among the Western companies discussed at the workshop were such major firms as Alcatel, Carrefour, Wal-Mart, Nike, Fortis, HSBC and others, and Chinese firms in Europe included electronics giant Huawei, or the insurance company Ping An.

One European union member reported on the ongoing campaign spotlighting practices in the sporting equipment industry, which began with the Athens Olympics, is continuing in connection with the Beijing Olympics and will be stepped up to involve the London Olympics and winter games in in Vancouver and Sochi, as well as Soccer Football cup finals in South Africa and other major sporting events and organisations. It was observed that in the past, companies such as Nike had responded by offering transparency about its supply and production chain and contractors and the Beijing Olympic Committee had investigated specific companies cited in the campaign reports.It was emphasised that compliance with legal requirements on working conditions was sought, not boycotts or contract withdrawals, since the latter penalised the workers and might not correct problems. It was also indicated such global campaigns might be developed in other industries, such as the building and construction sector.

The Brussels workshop also heard presentations about the new Chinese contract labour law, adopted by the National People's Congress in June 2007 after five years in official and public discussion and amendments which became effective in January 2008. The law provides for written contracts for all worker, including those in international companies and paves the way for mediation and arbitration commissions. There were references to the initial efforts by Western employers' organisation to oppose parts of the law and to lobby Chinese authorities on the subject.

Reports were delivered about the application of such domestic laws and international conventions and codes in China. Some of the focus was placed on several conventions adopted by the UN's International Labour Organisation, which have been ratified by China. Speakers indicated these should be applied to European companies operating in China and their workers.

Attention also focused on what was said to be the possibly evolving role of the ACFTU in implementing these documents, including the new Chinese law, in order to maintain social stability. European and other participants indicated that there were different currents of opinion within the ACFTU and the Chinese government about such issues.

Some participants also highlighted the need for more information about the increased presence and investment of Chinese companies in Europe and other world markets.

While some participants urged pressure for strong European responses, others emphasised that while protection of workers and industries through industrial policy might be needed, protectionism was not the solution to such problems. Some even underlined that more information about production chains could lead to more informed union and worker judgments about which technology should be introduced, maintained or abandoned in Europe.