World's leading retailer Wal-Mart saw two more trade unions established in its outlets in China over the weekend, making the total number hit four just a week after its first trade union was formed in Fujian Province, Workers Daily reported Monday.

At Saturday night, 31 employees of Wal-Mart's Xinjiekou store in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, convened to announce the establishment of the third trade union in Wal-Mart's Chinese stores.

And 12 employees of Wal-Mart's Qianjinlu store in southern city of Shenzhen elected their first trade union committee a few hours later in the wee hours of Sunday.

"The rapid development and promising future (of the trade unions) are heartening," Xu Deming, vice president of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), was quoted as saying.

"We'll draw on their successful experience to push forward the establishment of grassroots trade union in enterprises including the transnational ones," Xu said.

Wal-Mart's 60 Chinese outlets employ 23,000 people. The first trade union was set up at Wal-Mart's Jinjiang outlet on July 29 after 30 employees appealed to the local federation of trade unions.

The second was set up last Friday at Wal-Mart's Hujing store in Shenzhen.

Wal-Mart has a tradition of not allowing trade unions in its outlets. However, with mounting pressure from the ACFTU and the public, Wal-Mart China has earlier said in a statement that "Should associates request the formation of a union, Wal-Mart China would respect their wishes and honor its obligation under China's trade union law."

According to China's trade union law, enterprises or institutions with 25 employees and above should establish trade unions, and employees have the right to join the ACFTU.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2006)