Its accomplishments are detailed in a blue book, the first the federation has published since its foundation in 1925.

The book - available in both Chinese and English - puts under the microscope the work of the federation in helping Chinese labourers realize their economic, political and cultural interests.

The federation says the blue book will be updated on the regular basis.

Federation vice-chairman Zhang Junjiu stressed that trade unions in China, which represent workers' interests and rights, have recently given great attention and priority to employment issues.

The Party and the government at various levels have shown great concern over unemployment, and the trade unions have been working conscientiously to help laid-off workers, said Zhang.

Zhang said the federation makes regular surveys of the unemployment situation in China, participates in the central government's policy-making and supervises implementation of these policies.

Thanks to their efforts, China' trade unions have achieved their three "1.5 million goals" in the past three years - training 1.5 million laid-off workers, introducing 1.5 million laid-off workers to employment agencies and helping 1.5 million laid-off workers find new jobs.

Over the past five years, trade unions all over the country have also created 650,000 jobs by opening the labour market to the unemployed and providing funding for those who start their own businesses.

In addition, the federation has launched the "Helping Hand" programme and established 200 aid centres in major cities, where poverty-stricken workers can receive assistance.

Zhang pointed out that, over the past few years, the federation has tried to improve workers' living and working conditions, including extending annual paid holidays from 59 to 114 days.

(China Daily January 24, 2003)