Interesting story in China CSR this morning on labor in China:

Nineteen wal-mart China branches have signed collective contracts with Wal-mart China trade unions since the Wal-Mart Shenyang outlet signed the first contract on July 14, 2008.

Among the details of the contracts in Shenzhen:

• remuneration for labor
• defined working hours
• insurance
• welfare benefits
• employee training

Contracts get renegotiated each December. Employees have to get more than the local minimum wage (minimum wage is regional in China), and employees who've been around for more than three years get open ended contracts.

Wal-Mart in China has said that all Wal-Marts there will sign agreements with labor unions by about October 1st.

Ain't that a different reality...


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