Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo vowed Wednesday to better protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers and improve their living and working conditions during the process of the country’s economic development.
“Changes in China’s economic growth pattern will create a profound social transition and are therefore closely related to the interests of workers,” said Wu, Chair of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislative body.
He made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the 2011 International Forum on Economic Globalization and Trade Unions, held on 26 and 27 April.
The nation’s chief legislator called on workers to take an active part in China’s economic restructuring process, promising that their rights to democratic voting, decision-making, managing and auditing will be strictly protected.
Wu suggested creating more educational programmes and technologically innovative projects in order to improve the competence and skills of China’s workers, as well as improve the quality of China’s human resources in general.
Wu noted that effective protection for workers’ rights will help increase the speed of China’s economic reconstruction process. He proposed stepping up efforts to improve labour law enforcement, create more employment and boost wages as well as optimize health care and pension plans.
The Chinese Government highly values the role played by trade unions and supports their efforts to protect workers and improve their working conditions, Wu said, expressing his hope that the trade unions of all countries can work together to expand mutual respect and strengthen friendship and cooperation.
Leaders of 145 trade unions from 89 countries attended the forum.