Trade Unionists meet on Chinese investment in Africa

Accra, June 10, GNA - More than 30 Trade Unionists in Sub-Saharan Africa have converged in Accra on Tuesday to discuss the impact of Chinese investments on African economies.

The participants would also develop a trade union policy and strategy towards collective bargaining and social dialogue on Chinese investments and organise workers to campaign against bad practices. Dr Yaw Baah, Director of the Labour, Research and Policy Institute of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, said at the opening of the two-day workshop that China's interest, especially in oil producing countries in Africa, was as a result of her growing energy needs to power her industrial growth.

Presenting an overview on China's investment and its challenges for Africa, Dr Baah said the net benefits or effects of her investments in the Continent were difficult to assess, as a result of the absence of required data to do so.

He said a survey by the African Labour Research Network had confirmed high employment rate, especially in the textiles industry in many African countries, and noted that 67,000 jobs had been lost in South Africa due to the influx of Chinese imported textile.

He indicated that, although China's contribution to trade, foreign direct investment and aid were worth noting, other issues on her labour laws and human rights needed to be improved.

Dr Baah, therefore, called on the African Heads of State to seek the support of the African Trades Unions to find out ways to fashion out a win-win situation for both the investors and Africa.

Mr Rayford Mbulu, Regional Chairperson of the International Chemical Energy Mine Workers Union (ICEM), called on all African countries to stand up against any investments that would maximize profits to the detriment of the local people. He said a resolution would be issued at the end of the workshop and circulated to the 95 member states of the ICEM for necessary action. 10 June 08