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Taiwanese employees join mainland labor union

By Hu Meidong and Liu Xintian (China Daily Fujian Bureau)
Updated: 2009-08-10 17:08

Twelve Taiwanese employees in Xiamen received membership cards provided by the Xiamen General Labor Union recently, officially joining the mainland labor union.

It is the first time the All-China Federation of Trade Unions has accepted Taiwanese employees in the 30 years since Taiwan merchants invested in the mainland. The union recently changed the long-term policy prohibiting Taiwanese employees from joining mainland or Taiwan labor unions.

"They will get the same rights and benefits as other members of mainland labor unions and perform their duties at the same time [and] pay 2 yuan in union dues every month," Chen Yongdong, vice chairman of the Xiamen General Labor Union, said.

The 12 Taiwanese employees of the Xiamen Taiwan-owned enterprise Fei Peng Company are among 62 employees qualified to join the company's mainland labor union. They come from Taiwan cities such as Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung and Chiayi.

"Taiwanese employees gradually change their notions and thoughts and identify with regulations of mainland labor unions," said Xiao Yongxin, financial and legal counselor of the Taiwan Strait Exchange Foundation.

Since West Strait Economic Zone construction was included in China's development strategy, the Xiamen General Labor Union has paid more attention to labor union work of Taiwan-owned enterprises, Chen said. "The absorption of Taiwanese employees is a breakthrough of mainland labor unions," he added.

Xiamen is preparing for the first Taiwan-owned enterprises labor union working conference and will put forward policies related to Taiwan-owned enterprise labor union jobs. The Xiamen General Labor Union will also promote Taiwanese employees to join the mainland labor union according to Chen.