The Chinese multinational companies working for the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project and other projects across the world are ignoring the interest of the nation, people and workers and not concerned about fair wage to the workers, social security and health safety issues, alleged former Rajya Sabha MP, INTUC national vice president, Building and Wood Workers International vice chairman Dr RC Khuntia.

Dr Khuntia further alleged the companies are not interested for social dialogue with trade union. Hence workers working in Chinese   companies should join trade union and must have a national lobby and campaign for collective bargaining agreement to protect their rights, said Dr Khuntia while addressing the concluding session of an international conference at Manila, Philippines.

The conference was organised by Building and Wood Workers International from June 11 to 15. Representatives from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Fizi, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Macedonia, Brazil, Argentina, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, South Africa, Koreia, Middle East and North participated in the meeting. BWI general secretary Ambeed Yusoon gave the inaugural address. Chinese multinational companies are now active in 147 countries, 43 countries in sub Saharan Africa, 35 in Europe and Central Asia, 25 in East Asia and pacific, 20 in Latin America and the California, 18 in Middile East and North Africa and six in South Asia.

But not only the works are neglected and labour rights are violated by the Chinese multinationals, they are engaging more Chinese people in other countries. In Macedonia, of their workforce, 51% are locals and 49% Chinese. In other small Africa countries, 80% are Chinese and only 20% are locals. Even in Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka 20% people from China are engaged, the speakers said.

They don’t respect labour rights and ILO convention on labour laws. They don’t allow to from union, neither do they engage in dialogue. There are also attempts to suppress the voice of the labourers, the speakers charged at the meet.