中华全国总工会
Overview
Overview
The All‑China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU, 中华全国总工会) is the legally mandated national trade‑union centre of the People’s Republic of China. Established on 1 May 1925, it remains the world’s largest organised labour body, encompassing over 300 million workers in more than 1.7 million primary trade‑union units—covering the vast majority of urban and industrial workers. ACFTU is constitutionally recognised as a “people’s organisation” and a key mass institution of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with a coordinating role across all enterprise‑level unions.
1. Historical and Legal Framework
Founded during the Second National Labour Congress in May 1925, ACFTU was a focal point of early labour mobilisation. Following suppression in 1927, it was re‑established under CCP leadership in 1949 and formally regulated by the 1992 Trade Union Law (updated in 2001 and amended in 2009), which confirmed that all enterprise‑level unions must affiliate with ACFTU. Independent union organising is strictly prohibited under Chinese law, making ACFTU the exclusive legal union body in the PRC.
2. Mission, Vision and Objectives & Role in Higher Education
The stated mission of ACFTU is to “represent and protect the lawful rights and interests of workers, uphold the socialist system and maintain social stability” under CCP guidance. Its main objectives include staff skills training, legal services, collective wage adjustments and ideological work.
In higher education, ACFTU plays several roles:
- It administers workforce training and continuing education programmes via its own institution, the China University of Labor Relations, which provides both degree and non‑degree courses for union cadres and workers.
- ACFTU partners with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Human Resources to implement the nationwide “求学圆梦行动” (Dream‑Learning Action), launched in 2024–25 to facilitate access to higher and continuing education for industrial workers, including migrant and new‑type workers.
- University trade unions (in over 2,000 institutions) are accepted branches of ACFTU; they provide services in labour rights education, skill certification and psychological support to faculty and non‑academic staff—playing an increasingly active role in promoting innovation and “new quality productive forces” within campus environments.
3. Governance, Structure and Independence
ACFTU operates a five‑tier hierarchical structure: the national centre in Beijing; 31 provincial/municipal federations; city/county trade union councils; enterprise‑ and campus‑level unions; and grassroots committees. It also includes 10 national industrial unions organised by economic sector. Elections for union officers require approval by higher‑level ACFTU units and local CCP committees, which limits internal independence.
Despite its mission of worker representation, ACFTU’s leadership is embedded in CCP structures. Its central leadership is composed of dual Secretary–Chairman roles, each controlled by party appointees and union finances rely on mandatory payroll levies (usually 2 % of total company payroll), government subsidies and small revenues from affiliated businesses—not member dues. As such, ACFTU lacks independent trade‑union status according to international norms.
4. Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role in Higher Education
Unlike agencies under the Ministry of Education (MOE), ACFTU does not hold statutory authority to accredit institutions or academic programmes. According to uniRank’s classification of Chinese higher‑education‑related organisations, ACFTU is explicitly listed as a “government regulatory organisation” but is not assigned to the accreditation or quality‑evaluation category of bodies commonly responsible for evaluating academic credentials.
Thus, while ACFTU has no role in awarding or renewing institutional licences or programmes, it indirectly influences learning quality through its oversight of China University of Labor Relations and its funded continuing education projects. Its union‑run campuses subsequently participate in national programme evaluations under MOE frameworks, but ACFTU itself has no formal evaluator authority.
5. International Cooperation and Network Memberships
ACFTU maintains active engagement in global labour institutions. It is a longstanding affiliate of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and has a memorandum of understanding with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). It also signed a long‑term South–South Cooperation agreement with the International Labour Organization (ILO)—running from 2024 to 2027 with a USD 1.2 million ACFTU‑funded project to strengthen regional trade‑union capacities, especially among women and youth.
ACFTU has hosted recurring Forums on Economic Globalisation and Trade Unions since 2004 and cooperates with the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) and national unions across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Senior officers serve on ILO governing body bodies as worker representatives, enhancing ACFTU’s role in global labour policy dialogues.
6. Current or Future Impact on Higher Education
ACFTU’s role is steadily expanding in China’s education reform landscape. Through its “Dream‑Learning Action,” it aims to support over 3 million industrial workers in obtaining high‑school, diplomaor bachelor's qualifications by 2030. This initiative strengthens pathways for workers into mainstream higher education and aligns with national lifelong learning goals.
University trade unions are also emerging as key actors in delivering labour‑education programmes on campus, including vocational‑technical training, labour law refreshers and accreditation of workplace competencies. These trends are expected to enhance coordination between higher education institutions and industrial sectors—promoting productivity, innovation and worker mobility.
7. Summary
In summary, the ACFTU is China’s sole and legally mandated trade union federation, structured under CCP leadership. While lacking independence in the Western union model, it influences higher education as an educator of union cadres, administrator of worker continuing education programmes and promoter of bridging pathways between industry and universities. Through expanding international cooperation and lifelong learning initiatives, ACFTU continues to shape China’s evolving ecosystem of worker training and higher education engagement.
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the ACFTU and what does it do?
The All‑China Federation of Trade Unions is the central union body in China, responsible for representing workers and managing all enterprise‑level trade‑union organisations. It provides legal services, skills training, wage negotiations and ideological guidance under the leadership of the CCP. - How many members does ACFTU have?
By 2025, ACFTU claimed over 300 million members across more than 1.7 million primary union units—making it the world’s largest single trade‑union organisation. - Is ACFTU independent from the Communist Party?
No. Although legally described as a “people’s organisation,” its leadership is appointed in coordination with CCP bodies, elections require approval from party structures and it does not operate independently in the sense of industrial or political autonomy. - What is ACFTU’s legal status under Chinese law?
ACFTU is regulated by the national Trade Union Law, which prohibits independent unions and mandates that every enterprise‑level union affiliate with ACFTU. Its leadership, finances and governance are all defined under this legal framework. - Does ACFTU play any role in higher education accreditation?
No. ACFTU is not an accrediting or evaluation agency. Those tasks fall under the Ministry of Education and third‑party evaluation bodies. ACFTU’s involvement in education is limited to training programmes it directly manages or funds—including through its own labour university. - How does ACFTU engage with international institutions?
ACFTU maintains formal partnerships with international unions and institutions—such as ILO, ITF, WFTU, OATUU—participates in global forums, exchanges cadres and sponsors South–South cooperation projects to build labour mobilisation capacity across Asia, Africa and beyond.
Organization Profile
Organization Name
中华全国总工会
All China Federation of Trade Unions
Acronym
ACFTU
Year of Establishment
1925
Control Type
Entity Type
Non-Profit
Geo Focus and Coverage
National
Recognized by
n.a.
Affiliations or Memberships
n.a.
Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions
n.a.
Contact Details
Address
10 Fuxingmenwai Street
Beijing
100865 Beijing Province China
Phone
Fax
Location Map
Member Universities or Accredited Institutions
Wikipedia Article
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