In a bid to further bolster its coal mining industry, China is creating a massive new conglomerate in the coal heartland of Shanxi.

On Monday 19 October, Best Express workers staged a protest demanding the payment of wages in arrears after the sudden closure of a branch in Shanghai. On the same day, workers at YTO Express in Fuzhou also protested the non-payment of wages.

The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) is claiming credit for helping to eradicate absolute poverty in China, one of the key targets in paramount leader Xi Jinping’s goal of creating a moderately prosperous society by the end of this year.

Government inspections are just about the only mechanism currently used to enforce safety standards in China’s coal mines, and they have consistently failed to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of the miners working underground.