SHANGHAI, China, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler Group have announced that they will provide free working conditions training for all of their current suppliers in China. Developed by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), the training is designed to educate the suppliers on prevailing Chinese labor laws and to reinforce OEM commitment to healthy and safe working conditions for all employees in their global automotive supply chains. The training, which has gained support from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), will begin in mid-2007.
"The single most important resource at any of our member companies is people," said J. Scot Sharland, AIAG's executive director. "Given the tremendous growth of North American investment in the developing Chinese automotive supply chain, it is imperative that these companies are cognizant of local labor laws and fundamentally understand that Ford, GM and DaimlerChrysler expect 100 percent compliance."
"To succeed in the automotive business in the People's Republic of China, companies must understand our local labor laws and abide by them," said a leader of CAAM. "We are pleased that the Detroit automakers are pledging this level of sponsorship for our developing automotive supply base. The membership of CAAM supports Chinese labor law education for the supply chain."
Launched in October 2005, AIAG's global working conditions initiative is a collaborative industry-wide project focused on promoting decent working conditions for the millions of workers around the world involved in the production of automobiles. AIAG is also coordinating initial training sessions in Mexico starting in mid-2007 with the Business of Social Responsibility (BSR), a nonprofit business association that has been awarded a $165,000 grant from the U.S. State Department to help support and advance the project and other third-party providers.
About AIAG
Founded in 1982, AIAG is a globally recognized organization where OEMs and suppliers unite to address and resolve issues affecting the worldwide automotive supply chain. AIAG's goals are to reduce cost and complexity through collaboration; improve product quality, health, safety and the environment; and optimize speed to market throughout the supply chain. Headquartered in the metro Detroit area, its more than 1,500 member companies include North American, European and Asia-Pacific OEMs and suppliers to the automotive industry. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.aiag.org .
About CAAM
CAAM is a nationwide automotive industry association of Chinese automotive vehicle, motorcycle, auto parts and auto related enterprises and groups, which is legally established in accordance with the principles of equality and volunteerism. Its business areas include the study of economics, innovation and technology within the automotive industry, suggestions to the government on development plans and policies, trends of the domestic and international automotive market, industry statistics under the authorization of the government, sponsorships of activities to promote communication between international automotive industry organizations and organization of exhibition conferences to help member enterprises engage the domestic and international market under government authorization. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.caam.org.cn .
