Wal-Mart Workers in China Set Up Communist Party Branch
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - A group of employees at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.'s China headquarters have established a branch of the Communist Party there, according to published reports.
Wal-Mart's main office in China is located in the southern city of Shenzhen.
The new Communist Party branch, which was inaugurated last week, follows the establishment of similar party organizations in five Wal-Mart stores across the country since August, said Jonathan Dong, Wal-Mart's spokesman in China.
Wal-Mart isn't the first multinational company operating in China to have party branches, according to reports. Additionally, analysts say such branches typically don't interfere with companies' management. In fact, the party's constitution requires that any company with more than three party members among its employees set up a branch.
In July, Wal-Mart agreed to allow union branches in its Chinese stores after being pressured by China's All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
The establishment of the party branches and trade unions are "part of Wal-Mart's efforts to integrate with China," and follow the rules of the country, said Dong.
Wal-Mart's main office in China is located in the southern city of Shenzhen.
The new Communist Party branch, which was inaugurated last week, follows the establishment of similar party organizations in five Wal-Mart stores across the country since August, said Jonathan Dong, Wal-Mart's spokesman in China.
Wal-Mart isn't the first multinational company operating in China to have party branches, according to reports. Additionally, analysts say such branches typically don't interfere with companies' management. In fact, the party's constitution requires that any company with more than three party members among its employees set up a branch.
In July, Wal-Mart agreed to allow union branches in its Chinese stores after being pressured by China's All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
The establishment of the party branches and trade unions are "part of Wal-Mart's efforts to integrate with China," and follow the rules of the country, said Dong.