Shenzhen eyes party role in private firms
The Shenzhen government is raising eyebrows with its plan to survey private businesses in the city, with the aim of establishing Communist Party cells within companies.
Some scholars warn that a powerful party presence in private businesses might dampen entrepreneurial spirit and antagonise foreign investors.
The municipal committee of the Communist Party said it would survey all the city's registered private businesses, including foreign companies and joint ventures, from August 1 to September 15. Committee staff will visit each private business to find out how many party members are employed.
Shenzhen had about 67,000 private enterprises, 12,000 firms linked to foreign investors, and 180,000 self-owned businesses by the end of last year.
The committee has sent a letter to 160,000 party members in the city, with the assurance that the survey would not infringe their privacy or affect their work.
Noting that 'a lot of private enterprises do not have a party organisation', it said the survey was to prepare for the creation of party branches in the private sector.
'This survey will prepare the way for building a party home for every member working in private business, so they can better help the company to grow.'
It said party cells in private enterprises must provide 'guidance and supervision' to the business, and ensure they are law-abiding.
Xiao Bin, head of the department of political science at Sun Yat Sen University in Guangzhou, said it was understandable that the party should want to strengthen its position, but setting up party branches in private businesses was an outdated concept.
Professor Xiao said: 'Private enterprises make up half of Shenzhen's economy and they employ a lot of people.
'Unlike 20 years ago, many party members are now no longer working for state-owned enterprises or the government.
'It is only natural that the party wants to strengthen its organisation. But we have to be careful how much power these party branches will have. Will they enjoy the same kind of influence and power as those in state-owned enterprises?
'If yes, then it would be like asking a basketball coach to manage a soccer team. If the party committee can exert influence like those in state-owned enterprises, it would give the investor trouble.'
