Asia Labour Update, Issue No. 88

Since China first commenced with its reform and open policy in 1979, it has undergone a gradual process of economic change, resulting in dramatic transformations domestically for the lives of Chinese people, at the same time that such changes have resulted in China having become a crucial component of the global capitalist economy. As the Chinese government pursued policies which encouraged FDI to begin to pour into China, particularly from the early 1990s, China transformed itself into the ‘world’s factory’ built largely on the exploitation of Chinese migrant labour. While multinational corporations have taken advantage seeking to enhance their profts through reduced production costs as a result of lower wages and working conditions, the influx of FDI was also a major factor contributing to China’s incredible rates in economic growth, something which has allowed the Chinese Communist Party elites to enrich themselves.

An introduction to the BRICS - p.4
An Introduction to OBOR - p.8
The Environmental Impact of One Belt, One Road - p.12
Labour Issues and Workers’ Rights - p.15
An Introduction to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor - p.18
What might One Belt, One Road mean for people in China? - p.22
Conclusion - p.24
Grassroots Democracy under Globalisation -- Opening speech at the One Belt, One Road and BRICS forum - p.25
One Belt, One Road: Will Chinese capital buy-up the world? - p.27
Chinese Investments in Sri Lanka - p.33
The Funders of Cement Industry in Indonesia - p.37
Displacement in the name of Infrastructure Development - p.41
A People’s Forum on OBOR and BRICS meets in Hong Kong - p.48

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