"In fact, the most important and direct impact of the country's entry into WTO on workers will be on their employment," Zhang Junjiu, vice-chairman of All-China Federation of Trade Unions, on Tuesday told an international workshop held in Beijing.

The heightened competition coming along with China's entry into the WTO and further industrial restructuring may cause some workers to lose their jobs, according to Zhang.

"Due to the fluctuation factors caused by free trade and competition in the international market, the entry into the WTO will also bring deep changes to the current employment patterns in different sectors and industries," said Zhang.

There are also opportunities, Zhang told attendees at the Workshop on China's Entry into the WTO and Its Social Implications, which opened on Tuesday.

"The entry will create conditions for the long-term stable development of export trade, lay a solid foundation for long-term stability of the State's economy and promote the steady growth of employment," Zhang said.

The federation hopes to learn from the experiences of developed countries about how to meet those challenges and improve Chinese union services for workers after the entry.

Josie Mooney, executive director of America-based Service Employees International Union, said that workers around the world should join hands in the globalized economy.

"I'm here to build a shared understanding with trade unionists around the world," Josie said.

"How, in a global economy, can we offer mutual support and advocate for similar goals that help each of us realize the ultimate goal of our institutions - to win better wages and working conditions for all workers?"

A union leader from Italy hailed the workshop for addressing issues of profound significance.

"It is in fact the first time that such a seminar has been held in an accession country to the WTO. The importance of this initiative is well understood, not only for Chinese workers but also for European workers and trade unions," said Carmelo Cedrone, director of the International Department of Italian Trade Union.

(China Daily October 24, 2001)