Trade unions should and can play their role in work safety supervision, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Tuesday.

Trade unions at all levels should bring their role into full play "especially in work safety supervision" to better safeguard workers' interest, the premier said.

Wen made the remarks at a press conference following the conclusion of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

Referring to a series of serious work safety accidents in the country, Wen said it is imperative to strengthen work safety training on workers.

"We shall promote their awareness of safety and strengthen their ability of self-protection," the premier said.

"Trade unions in China are workers' own organizations, and they are not set up by employers," Wen told the press conference when answering a question raised by a French reporter about the "independence" of China's trade unions.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2006)