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Letter from the Editors
1 May 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU). In his commemorative speech, Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping once again stressed that trade unions must uphold their core mission of serving workers, safeguarding their legal rights, promoting their all-round development, and strengthening rights protection mechanisms. Xi called on unions to address workers’ real concerns with “sincerity, empathy and determination,” emphasising that achieving common prosperity depends on the hard work of China's workforce and must translate directly into tangible improvements in their lives. Specifically, he highlighted the need to increase the share of labour in national income distribution, enhancing workers’ sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.
However, as CLB’s Strike Map data and extensive reporting continue to show, the reality facing China's workers remains starkly at odds with these official commitments. Wage arrears persist, work-related injuries and fatalities are met with indifference or bureaucratic hurdles, enterprise unions remain under management control, and local unions frequently lapse into empty formalism. As the ACFTU enters its second century, CLB urges a critical reflection on these persistent failures. China's trade union system must undergo substantial reform to bolster its independence and genuine representation, moving beyond performative gestures to become a true advocate for workers’ rights.
In this issue of our newsletter, we continue to document and analyse recent collective actions by workers across China, highlighting cases where unions have been conspicuously absent, and calling for accountability and meaningful change.
Thank you for your continued support.
CLB editors
Spotlights
This month, CLB reported on a devastating factory fire in Pingshan, Sichuan, triggered when a young worker allegedly set fire to his workplace after being denied his final wages. The incident, which left the factory in ruins and the worker facing criminal charges, sparked widespread public sympathy—but notably, no meaningful intervention from the local or enterprise unions. Officials dismissed the central issue of wage arrears, framing the tragedy merely as a personal outburst. Yet this event starkly highlights how the absence of genuine union representation and weak labour protections can transform routine labour disputes into full-blown crises. CLB continues to advocate for stronger enforcement of labour laws and comprehensive union reform to address these systemic shortcomings.
Also in May, we investigated the silent toll of the renewed US-China tariff war on China’s garment workers. As orders dry up and factories shutter, thousands of low-wage workers—mostly women—are losing their livelihoods without recourse or support. The expansion of US tariffs, targeting goods made by Chinese companies even in third countries, has amplified uncertainties, exacerbating the crisis facing workers. While global brands shift production elsewhere, few are taking adequate responsibility for the vulnerable workers left behind. CLB urges these international brands to enact genuine transition plans prioritising workers’ rights, rather than quietly exiting and leaving entire communities stranded in economic precarity.
In addition, CLB shared insights from our recent experience using Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act to hold companies accountable for rights violations in Chinese factories. Complaints submitted to BAFA in early 2025 have triggered investigations into several multinational corporations sourcing from exploitative suppliers. Amid ongoing political debate in Germany over potential changes to the law, CLB emphasises the importance of transparency, diligent enforcement, and sustained dialogue among stakeholders. We welcome continued collaboration with unions, civil society groups, and policymakers to strengthen corporate accountability and safeguard workers’ rights across borders.
April 2025 Map Trends
In April, CLB’s Strike Map recorded 134 collective labour incidents, a slight increase from March’s 130 cases and a sharp rise compared to the 103 cases logged in April 2024. The distribution of incidents this month was notably uneven, with Guangdong province standing out sharply. The southern manufacturing hub recorded 37 cases—by far the highest across all regions—likely reflecting growing pressure on export-oriented industries amid the ongoing US-China tariff conflict. In contrast, no other province reported more than 10 cases.
The industry distribution of collective actions shifted again in April. Construction remained the most affected sector with 73 cases (54.48%), up from 62 cases (47.69%) in March. Manufacturing saw a significant surge, rising from 25 cases (19.23%) to 39 (29.1%), reflecting growing strain in export-oriented industries. In contrast, several sectors recorded declines. The services sector dropped from 23 cases (17.69%) in March to 13 (9.7%) in April, while transport, storage, logistics and postal incidents decreased from 13 (10%) to 3 cases (2.24%).
Wage arrears remained the predominant cause of worker collective actions in April, accounting for 88.81% of all incidents (119 out of 134)—a slight rebound from March’s 80.77% (105 out of 130) and February’s 85.15% (86 out of 101). Meanwhile, 43 incidents (32.09%) occurred within state-owned enterprises and public institutions, a noticeable rise from March’s 25.38% (33 cases).
This month, CLB’s Accident Map recorded three major incidents resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. In one case, at the Jinhe Coal Mine in Gansu, a sudden carbon dioxide outburst during tunnelling work on 13 April affected 14 workers. Two miners died at the scene, and three others later died in hospital. The incident also left nine others injured, who remain under medical treatment.
Our Workers' Calls-for-Help Map recorded two cases in April. One involved a sudden death of a worker at Compal Information Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. CLB is currently investigating the case and will publish a detailed report in the coming days.
Key Map Cases
Chongqing: Truck Drivers Protest Against Market Monopoly by Urban Management Authorities
From 11 to 16 April, construction waste truck drivers across several districts of Chongqing organised multiple protests against attempts by local urban management authorities to monopolise the building waste disposal market. Drivers in Yubei, Jiangbei, Dadukou, and Shapingba University Town rallied to oppose the issuance of compulsory licenses that effectively excluded independent drivers, leaving just two designated companies to dominate the market. The drivers, many of whom come from rural areas and rely on transporting construction waste for their livelihood, expressed anger at the policy’s lack of transparency and its severe impact on their ability to earn a living. Under sustained pressure, officials announced the temporary suspension of the policy until a new municipal directive is issued.
Fuzhou, Jiangxi: Doctors and Nurses Demand Unpaid Wages After Hospital Closure
On 7 April, doctors and nurses from the Dongxin No.6 Hospital gathered in front of the Fuzhou municipal government building in Jiangxi province, demanding payment of performance-related wages that have been withheld for seven months. The privately-owned hospital, established with registered capital of 30 million yuan, was fined 80 million yuan for alleged medical insurance fraud. The hospital’s chairman was detained by police at the end of March, and the hospital ceased operations on 1 April. Employees revealed that the hospital could no longer pay the wages of its 411 staff members and even defaulted on March’s electricity bill of 100,000 yuan.