Governments, trade unions and employers should protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers and ensure they get their share of economic and social benefits.
This was the agreement reached at the 2008 International Forum on Economic Globalization and Trade Unions that ended in Beijing yesterday.
Unions have to ensure that economic growth benefits all workers, and helps them meet their basic needs such as food, housing, health and education, the forum said. The International Labor Organization should do more to support unions, especially in developing countries, and offer more funds, talents and expertise.
More than 60 leaders of 37 trade unions from 25 countries participated in the two-day forum, co-sponsored by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). It was the fourth forum held by the two federations.
"Decent work" was the most discussed subject at the forum.
ACFTU executive vice-chairwoman is Sun Chunlan. She said, "In pursuit of sustainable social and economic development, trade unions should strive to ensure that workers' legitimate rights are protected and that they get decent work."
Chinese trade unions have been trying to set up systems to coordinate with workers and protect their rights and interests, settle labor disputes and create channels for workers to let their voices be heard, ACFTU chairman Wang Zhaoguo said.
The Law on Employment Promotion and the Labor Contract Law implemented by the government, too, is aimed at protecting workers' rights.
WFTU general secretary George Mavrikos discussed the Labor Contract Law that came into effect on January 1. He said "Every year there are positive changes in China, such as the recent labor law."
The pursuit of decent work remains an arduous task because of economic inequality, poverty and accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few, Mavrikos said. Two percent of the world's population owns 60 percent of its wealth, while 800 million people face starvation and 200 million children are forced to live in abject poverty.
Delegates stressed the diverse ways unions pursue their goals, too. Wang, for example, said that since unions across the world are organized differently, international bodies should respect a country's operation model and development policy.
Mavrikos added that, "since problems facing workers across the world are common, we should globalize our efforts and keep struggling."
Questions:
1.What was the most talked about subject at the forum?
2.When did the Labor Contract Law come into effect?
3. How many people, according to Mavrikos, face starvation?
4. What percentage of the world population owns sixty percent of the wealth?
Answers:
1.Decent work.
2.January 1.
3.800 million.
4.Two percent.
（英語點津 Celene 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Jonathan Stewart is a media and journalism expert from the United States with four years of experience as a writer and instructor. He accepted a foreign expert position with chinadaily.com.cn in June 2007 following the completion of his Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Comparative Politics.
