The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Beijing

China aims to have trade unions established in at least 70 percent of all foreign-invested companies within about a year, up from 63.5 percent, a senior trade union official said on Thursday.

"Our goal for the current stage is to have more than 70 percent of foreign companies set up trade unions by autumn next year," said Sun Chunlan, vice chairperson of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, or ACFTU.

"I believe the goal for the next stage will be even higher," she told reporters.

In July 2006, the world's biggest retailer Wal-Mart set up its first trade union in a shop in southeastern China's Fujian province after two years of resisted efforts.

Other multinational companies like McDonald's, KFC and Carrefour have also formed local unions, which are all affiliated with the ACFTU, the only legal trade union in China with a membership of 170 million people.