China's 'major step' for human rights

There is scepticism about the effect on Chinese labour rights

By Louisa Lim

China has ratified the United Nations Covenant on Economic and Social Rights, a key human rights accord, but appears to have exempted itself from allowing free trade unions.

The move follows mounting international pressure on Beijing to improve its human rights record.

The Chinese Government has a very strong track record of saying one thing to the international community and doing completely another thing

Labour movement expert Trini Leung

Human rights groups and observers have welcomed the news that the Chinese parliament has signed this key agreement into law.

They say it will set a new moral standard for the government, and China itself says it has taken a major step to protect human rights.

But there has been scepticism about what seems to be a reservation on China's part.

It has said it will adopt the convention in line with the relevant provisions of China's trade union law, which only allows one state-controlled trade union.

Experts say until that law has been amended there is little hope that workers will be allowed to form their own trade unions.

'Double speak'

Trini Leung has been tracking the labour movement in China and she is pessimistic about whether the ratification of this covenant will have any concrete effect.

"The problem is that the Chinese Government has a very strong track record that they can say one thing to the international community and doing another thing completely," she said.

"And I think the international organisations like the UN have to be much more vigilant."

The announcement's timing is also significant - it comes just days after China was the target of criticism in the annual US State Department report.

The US has already said it will sponsor a motion to censure China at the UN human rights conference in two weeks' time.

But regardless of Beijing's motives, one dissident unionist told the BBC that the very fact it has now ratified the covenant should be taken as proof that there are officials inside the Chinese Government pressing for reform.