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The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) on Friday met with the Chinese trade union federation of the Shanxi Province. Matters under discussion included workers’ rights, wage increases and the Marikana massacre.

FEDUSA President Koos Bezuidenhout and General Secretary Dennis George met with the delegation led by Chairman Guo Hailing to discuss the mutual co-operation in order to promote and protect workers rights in both countries. Bezuidenhout has been on numerous official visits to China on invitation from the All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) with its 250 million members.

“As FEDUSA we remain committed to exchange views with our Chinese colleagues in order to ensure that the workers rights are protected. We also welcome the announcement by Chairman Hailing that the Chinese authorities are committed to increase the minimum salaries of Chinese workers by 14% per year,” said Bezuidenhout.

This 5-year agreement is currently in its 3rd year, and Chairman Hailing explained that this policy intervention is intended to stimulate domestic demand and to also increase the income per capita of urban and rural workers.

Chairman Hailing reported that the Chinese employed population in the Shanxi province stood at approximately 15 million – which is almost the same as the entire workforce in South Africa, and that about 407 000 new jobs were created and 161 000 laid-off workers got re-employed during the year in the Shanxi Province. The urban unemployment rate for Shanxi Province is 3.1%, while the disposable income of urban people was 8.914 yuan per capita, up 12.8% from 2004, while rural peoples' per capita net income was 2.891 yuan, a growth of 11.6% from the previous year.

Chairman Hailing also expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the mineworkers who were killed at the Lonmin Marikana massacre, and wished a speedy recovery to those injured when the police opened fire on striking workers.

“FEDUSA again calls on the trade unions involved and Lonmin management to work towards a lasting and peaceful resolution,” concluded Bezuidenhout.

The Chinese delegation also indicated that China viewed South Africa as a prime tourist destination and that they will also spread the word about their pleasant stay in South Africa.