Person of the Year Runner-up: The Chinese Worker

The United States’ Time magazine has a certain level of international influence, and its selection of Person of the Year has a long history. As the magazine announced 2009’s Person of the Year, the “Chinese Worker” represented the only group of people to make this year’s list, and it won the title of runner-up.

Time justified the selection thus: China’s economy has successfully realized its goal to “protect eight” (referring to the target of 8 percent annual economic growth) and continues to maintain the fastest rate of economic development among the world’s major economies, leading the world towards economic recovery. These contributions are largely owed to the hard work and diligence of China’s millions of average workers.*

Time’s assessment is actually quite objective and fair. When this year’s financial crisis engulfed the world, even the most developed countries grumbled. Only China withstood the financial storm and maintained its rapid rate of development. China not only made a contribution for its own citizens but for the world. Time magazine’s praise of the Chinese worker, practically speaking, is an affirmation of the many efforts put forth by the Chinese government in facing the financial crisis. It is an acknowledgment of the indomitable spirit of the Chinese people and even more so an acknowledgment of Chinese laborers’ spirit of sacrifice. This sort of fair, objective, and completely sincere affirmation expresses a type of respect that we are extremely pleased to accept.

Chinese workers are indeed hard working and persevering. They reach throughout all Chinese cities, large and small, actively working in mines and on construction sites. Some work for collective enterprises; some work for private enterprises; and some are the comparatively weak migrant workers. Our cities’ prosperity and development depend on their hard labor. Society’s stable operation depends on their contribution of diligent efforts. Black coal, white salt, yellow gold, flowing oil, strong steel – much of these are the result of the labor of the Chinese worker. Without China’s workers, there will be no development in China; without China’s workers, there will be no prosperity in China. Therefore, in a wise move, the Chinese Communist Party established the “Rely Whole-Heartedly on the Working Class” slogan, which clarifies the national position and function of China’s workers.

Chinese workers are not an isolated and disparate group. Behind them is a great organization, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU). The ACFTU stands at the forefront of these tough times in facing a serious situation. It has organized and held widespread “mutual promise activities, maintained equal economic growth and put forth a great effort to advance development.” These activities have advanced the development of enterprises, facilitated workers to recognize their rights, and revealed unique advantages of China’s trade union development. Viewed from this angle, by raising the overall quality of workers and cultivating a knowledgeable, technological, innovative, and advanced workforce, the ACFTU has played an important role in overcoming crises and pushing economic development forward.

Chinese workers have gained respect across the world. This also reminds every level of government and enterprise that they must cherish workers’ initiative and creativity; they must protect their legal rights and interests; they must raise their quality of life. When the end of the year comes, hopefully those in charge will investigate to find out whether workers’ wages are appropriate, whether their winter living quarters are sufficiently warm, whether safety hazards have been eliminated, whether their relatives’ lives are safeguarded, and so on. The “worker of China” is not an empty, vague concept; it is a body made up of countless living, breathing individuals. The Party and government care for them. Every level of trade unions protects them. All of society, including every one of us, needs to call and shout out for the interests of the workers. In the end, this is for all of us, the PEOPLE.

*Editor’s note: Original article may be found at http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1946375_1947252_1947256,00.html