The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) is ready to help Wal-Mart China to establish trade union, an ACFTU official said Thursday, responding to a statement issued by the company on Tuesday.

In an exclusive interview, the ACFTU official, who declined to be named, told Xinhua that Wal-Mart China has shown a positive change of its long-standing none-union attitude in its statement and the ACFTU is planning to help foreign-funded companies, including the Wal-Mart, in the country to establish trade unions as soon as possible.

Analysts believe that the world retail giant reversed its none-union position under the pressure from the ACFTU and public voices provoked by the media.

China's labor union threatened legal action against foreign enterprises such as Wal-Mart, Dell, Kodak, Samsung for refusing to set up trade unions in their Chinese businesses in October this year.

The global retailer said in the statement faxed to media 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."

The statement also pledges to "continue to work closely with our associates and appropriate government authorities to ensure full compliance with China's trade union law."

The ACFTU official told Xinhua that "Wal-Mart no longer holds the international practice of not building up trade union as an excuse, indicating that its attitude toward the issue has changed positively."

The ACFTU is planning to conduct questionnaires of employees working in foreign-funded companies within China, including Wal-Mart, to study their working situations and welfare system, said the official.

"If their employees have the intention to set up trade unions, the ACFTU will provide assistance for the early installation of such bodies for the protection of their rights in accordance with the trade union law," the official said.

"And if the foreign-funded companies still deny their workers' right to join the trade unions, the ACFTU will surely pursue litigation against them," he added.

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has about 20,000 Chinese staff in its 40 China outlets throughout 18 Chinese cities. None of the outlets has established a trade union so far.

According to China's trade union law, all employees have the right to join the ACFTU, and anyone who applied for the setting up of a union should be approved by the company.    

(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2004)