More than 1,700 nursing aids in Beijing signed a collective bargaining agreement with their employer on Dec 16 that ensures their lowest monthly wage next year will be 1,300 yuan.

It was the first collective bargaining deal nationwide among nursing aids. The agreement also stipulates that the company and the workers will negotiate a pay deal each year.

All of the nursing aids are employed by Huijiafeng Labor Service Company - the largest in the field.

The deal followed the establishment of a trade union at the company in June 2009.

"Now we have the agreement, I feel steady and sure that we can have basic security," said Feng Aifen, a female nursing aid.

She said workers had not been getting a basic salary but received about 70 percent of clients' payments. Customers pay about 80 to 90 yuan a day to hire a nursing aid.

Feng said the agreement includes a promise that workers will get at least 55 yuan a day.

"The most important part of the agreement is that it sets up the collective bargaining system in this industry," said Xu Yuming, deputy manager of Huijiafeng Labor Service Company.

The company also stands to benefit from the system because it anticipates a more steady supply of workers.

He said the low income was an important reason why some nursing aids had left the company in the past.

"Negotiation will be their first choice, rather than just leaving when they want to get more money," Xu told METRO. "The system can build a smooth communications channel between us and the nursing aids."

Zeng Fanxin, deputy president of the Beijing Federation of Trade Unions, said they will promote Huijiafeng's experience to all companies in the sector.

There are about 40,000 nursing aids in Beijing.

Zeng said trade unions in all districts should turn their attention to nursing aids and help protect their rights in 2011.

The Beijing Federation of Trade Unions has been busy promoting the collective bargaining system among enterprises in various industries this year.

In 2010, housekeepers, security staff and restaurant servers have all been key targets for the establishment of collective bargaining and the first collective agreement in the housekeeping industry was signed on Sept 2.

The All-China Federation of Trade Unions has said it would like all enterprises in Beijing to establish collective bargaining systems by 2012.

(China Daily December 16, 2010)