Support for FAW-Volkswagen workers in China

We have received a message from agency workers at FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co. in Changchun, China.

They report that, for years, they have been subjected to exploitation by a joint venture backed by the German Volkswagen Group.

For over a decade, FAW-Volkswagen has maintained a discriminatory two-tier workforce system. Temporary workers carry out the same work as permanent staff, but receive only around 40 per cent of their wages. The total amount of unpaid wages owed to the thousands of workers affected is estimated, at the very least, at over 3.2 billion RMB (over 415 million euros). Many have also suffered serious shortfalls in their compulsory social security contributions, with some arrears dating back more than ten years.

To obtain permanent status, workers were forced to pay sums ranging from 100,000 RMB to 200,000 RMB (13,000 to 26,000 €), which generated approximately 300 million RMB (39 million €) in illegal payments. When the workers attempted to seek justice through the courts, the proceedings were stalled for more than nine years. Workers’ representatives were subjected to surveillance, reprisals and criminal prosecution. Peaceful actions – including singing the national anthem outside government buildings to demand their rights – were misrepresented to lead to charges of ‘disturbing public order’.

As a German multinational, the Volkswagen Group is subject to German law, which requires companies to identify, prevent and mitigate human rights risks across all their operations and global supply chains, including within joint ventures. Similar obligations are set out in the EU Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence. By failing to guarantee equal treatment, fair wages and adequate social protection for workers at its Chinese sites – whilst profiting from their labour – the company is in breach of these obligations.

The International Trade Union Network for Solidarity and Struggles supports the demands of the agency workers at FAW-Volkswagen in Changchun:

-    Volkswagen management must be held to account.

-    Transparency regarding practices that have been in place for years, and compensation from the Volkswagen Group.

-    Equal pay for equal work!

This struggle is part of the global fight against exploitation and for workers’ unity!

Message from the SUD Industrie trade union (France): PDF