Growing inequality in China fuels workers anger

In the huge metropolis of Chongqing in south west China, workers have increasingly been taking action to protest against wage arrears, low pay and working conditions. A new factor in workers’ grievances has been the increasing widening gap between their pay and the salaries of their managers. In addition, the established enterprise unions are seen as unable to defend workers’ rights and as not much more than social clubs. Strikes in China have been steadily increasing over the last few years.

In the huge metropolis of Chongqing in south west China, workers have increasingly been taking action to protest against wage arrears, low pay and working conditions. A new factor in workers’ grievances has been the increasing widening gap between their pay and the salaries of their managers. In addition, the established enterprise unions are seen as unable to defend workers’ rights and as not much more than social clubs. Strikes in China have been steadily increasing over the last few years.