Chinese Investments in Africa

China has developed an unprecedented interest in Africa of late and analysts have attributed this to the growing energy needs to power the industrial growth of China. The (FES) and the International Chemical Energy Mine Workers Union (ICEM) organised this workshop on Chinese Investment in Africa in Accra Ghana, from 10th - 11th June 2008 to increase the knowledge of unionists on Chinese investment and their effects on working relations, to develop a clear trade union policy and strategy towards collective bargaining and social dialogue in companies with Chinese investment, and to organise workers to campaign against bad practices in such companies on the African continent.
The workshop afforded labour unions across Africa the opportunity to network, renew their solidarity and strategise to work together for a better Africa. A communiqué was developed and adopted calling on African governments to involve the labour movement on the continent in discussing and agreeing on all contracts signed with foreign companies. The communiqué was signed by all the leaders from across the continent and sent out as a press release to the media houses.