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Wal-Mart workers in Quanzhou in south-western China, have formed a local union. As foreseen by Chinese legislation, this is a local of the All China Federation of Trade Unions ACFTU. Workers do have the right to form local unions, but until now, Wal-Mart has effectively held ACFTU outside its markets.

Wang Zhaoguo, China's top trade union leader, recently expressed serious concern over low trade union organising rates in the country's fast growing foreign enterprise sector. In his statement, Wang pointed at Wal-Mart as a particularly bad example when it comes to respecting the right of workers to unionise. He said that special legislation may be needed to ensure that also foreign enterprises allow the All-China Federation of Trade Unions ACFTU to establish union locals.

Of the foreign retail multinationals in China, both market leader Carrefour and fast growing Metro Cash & Carry recognise their commitment to Chinese labour legislation and have opened their doors to an ACFTU presence in their workplaces.