Chapter 64 Chapter 62 Questioning the role of "government-run" industry associations

Some industry associations similar to the "Dental Defense Group" are still attached to government departments, under the banner of the government, and do everything possible to "mooch off" from enterprises. In April 2007, the "Dental Defense Group", an organization that had survived for nearly 20 years under the status of "not an official or a citizen" and had carried out "authoritative certification" for more than ten years, was revoked by the Ministry of Health. Pursuit of domestic public opinion. "The abolition of the dental defense group is a landmark event in the history of the development of industry associations." Relevant experts told reporters that the number of industry associations in my country has grown rapidly in recent years and has increasingly become an important force to promote economic development. Some "government-run" industry associations of the "Defense Group" are still attached to government departments, under the banner of the government, and do everything possible to "mooch off" from enterprises.

As the problems of the "Dental Defense Group" have been exposed one after another, domestic public opinion has also begun to question various "government-run" and "semi-government-run" industry associations.The reform and role positioning of industry associations have once again become the focus of public opinion. On May 13, 2007, the State Council issued "Several Opinions on Accelerating the Reform and Development of Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce", which clearly requires the separation of executive and council, and industry associations must carry out activities independently in strict accordance with laws, regulations and charters, and effectively solve administrative problems. Tendency to be serious and dependent on government issues.It should be completely separated from the government and its departments, enterprises and institutions in terms of functions, institutions, staff, and finance.Incumbent civil servants are not allowed to concurrently hold leadership positions in industry associations and chambers of commerce, and those who really need to hold concurrent posts must strictly follow the relevant regulations for approval.

In Beijing, you can see the signs of such-and-such associations, such-and-such societies and such-and-such chambers of commerce (hereinafter collectively referred to as "industry associations") hanging on the entrances of some government departments, and many of them also bear the prominent title of "Guozihao". my country's industry associations appeared in the early 1980s.With the development of my country's market economy, industry associations serve as a bridge between the government and enterprises. Some of them insist on serving the government, industry and enterprises, and play an increasingly important role on the big stage of the market economy.

However, the reporter's investigation found that in recent years, some industry associations have been affiliated with certain government departments, using various methods to force companies to join the membership, charging high membership fees, and using "comparisons", "rankings", "certifications" and "exhibition" methods. Arbitrary issuance of certificates and arbitrary charges by enterprises, while self-destructing their credibility, has also seriously damaged the authority of the competent authorities. "I don't do business, and spend all day trying to make money from the company." A person in charge of an enterprise in Hangzhou reported to the reporter, "Recently, I have received many calls from associations every day, and they claim to be associations under the State Council or a certain ministry. It’s almost like an invitation to participate in the awards and awards. Each item requires money, tens of thousands more, and thousands less.”

"The fee to join an association is not low, ranging from a few thousand yuan to over a hundred thousand yuan." A private enterprise boss in Beijing complained to the reporter, "The key is that you paid the money to join the association, and you didn't get any benefits from the association. What kind of service. I only remembered the existence of such an association when I was notified to pay the dues next year." It is understood that in recent years, the association has held various "appraisals" with various tricks, such as "Brand of the Year", "Consumer Satisfaction Award", "Top Ten Titles", "Most Trusted Brands" and so on. On January 11, 2007, the China Quality Association and other units released the results of "comparative experiments" on some white goods. On the fourth day after the results were released, the China Household Electrical Appliances Association publicly questioned that the China Quality Association did not have the right to spot checks. The evaluation seriously damaged the interests of the enterprise.

"This kind of competition between associations makes people feel that they are not competing for services to enterprises, but are really fighting for the huge gray income behind them." A business executive in Beijing explained the mystery.He said: "At present, many industry associations are keen to engage in various evaluations and rankings. The purpose is just two words: to make money. In many selection activities, you can be selected almost by paying a fee. It depends on how much you pay before and after the ranking. It feels like a bidding ranking. .Moreover, the leaders of some associations used to be the old leaders of the government departments in charge of enterprises, so it is very difficult to refuse to participate in the selection."

The reporter's investigation found that, in addition to the high membership fees and various evaluation fees and ranking fees that caused unnecessary burdens on enterprises, various "certifications" of the association also made enterprises avoid them. It is the main business of "certification" of the association to certify products for enterprises. "Antibacterial down jackets", "antibacterial floors", "antibacterial air conditioners", etc., these products certified by the "China Antibacterial Association" are accused of having no "certification standards"; Dian flooring has been awarded the so-called "315 mark" certification for 6 consecutive years and 3 times.

The reporter's investigation found that there are many problems in the industry associations at present. In addition to the lack of self-discipline, the main source comes from the system defects of the industry associations in our country. It is understood that a considerable number of associations still follow the model of administrative institutions. Not only are there divisions, bureaus, and divisions, but also the personnel they are equipped with are also treated at the administrative level. Cadres serve as the honorary chairman, and a party and government cadre of the same level serves as the chairman.The common people call such an association: "wearing the hat of the market, holding the whip of the government, sitting in the sedan chair of the industry, collecting tickets from the enterprise, and providing part-time positions for officials."

"The most prominent feature of my country's industry associations is that they do not separate government and council." Jia Xijin of the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) Research Institute of Tsinghua University believes that "some government-run associations are only the caliber and vassals of the government, and the decisions made by administrative agencies are passed on through associations. to the business." "Because the leadership of many associations is not elected by members, but appointed by relevant government departments. Therefore, such associations are generally only responsible to government departments, not to members, and they perform more regulatory functions than members. The function of service.” Professor Li Chengyan of the School of Government Administration of Peking University said in an interview with reporters, “Such institutions or staff often rely on government authorization to obtain monopoly power, but lack effective external supervision and internal self-discipline. Industry associations can become the invisible symbol of administrative power, and become organizations that charge arbitrary fees, and some association leaders may even take advantage of regulatory loopholes to make a lot of ill-gotten wealth."

A person in charge of a real estate company in Beijing who is familiar with the situation of industry associations believes that although former officials who have served in various associations have retired and served in the association, their contacts and relationship resources are still there, and they can easily get through all links of the government.Especially officials who once held higher leadership positions, their "residual heat" should not be underestimated. Some of them act as intermediaries between enterprises and the government to seek their own interests. This is what some experts call the "revolving door of power."

Some associations privately represent some profit-making businesses of the corresponding functional departments, sign contracts with other companies in the society, and justifiably charge a certain amount of information fees. Most of these fees will eventually be withdrawn by the officials in charge of the relevant functional departments in various names. .In addition, some officials also transferred unit funds into the accounts of these associations in the name of sponsorship fees, and then withdrew them in various names and put them into their own pockets. Many experts interviewed believe that my country's entry into the WTO means that Chinese enterprises must face global competition, and the result of competition depends not only on the strength of the enterprises themselves, but also on the development of industry associations and other factors.It is imminent to reform the existing trade associations. In fact, the Chinese government has long been determined to standardize and develop industry associations. In 1998, the central government issued the "Notice of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council Concerning Leading Cadres of Party and Government Organs Not Concurrently Serving as Leaders of Social Organizations", prohibiting the phenomenon of "one team, two brands". On October 14, 2003, the Central Committee issued the "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Issues Concerning Improving the Socialist Market Economic System", pointing out that "regulate and develop various self-regulatory organizations such as industry associations and chambers of commerce in accordance with the principles of marketization." On March 25, 2005, the National Development and Reform Commission issued "Several Opinions on Promoting the Reform and Development of Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce" (Draft for Comment), which stated that the purpose of industry associations is to serve members thirteen main functions including putting forward suggestions on economic and social development policies and legislation". However, the reporter's investigation found that the reform of industry associations in some places is always "slowly". In April 2007, a city in the north began to discuss the development and reform plan of the industry association. It planned to use three years to separate the relevant government departments from the industry association. Incumbent government staff who have served concurrently in leadership positions such as secretary-general must resign. "The current reform of industry associations in various places feels like squeezing toothpaste, which deeply reflects the strong inertia of local administrative reform." Zhang Ming, a professor of political science at Renmin University of China, believes that "behind this is the unwillingness of government departments to truly decentralize power." Relevant experts analyzed the "Several Opinions on Accelerating the Reform and Development of Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce" issued by the State Council on May 13, 2007. This opinion completely separates the government from the industry associations at the national level, which is of great importance for further clarification. It is of positive significance to regulate the development of government functions and standardize industry associations.However, some experts pointed out that this provision does not specify a specific time for civil servants to withdraw from industry associations. Withdrawing from the industry association left a big gap. "The only effective way for my country's industry associations to get out of the predicament and make a difference like some foreign industry associations is to liberalize the entry threshold of industry associations, cancel the dual management, dilute the official background, and completely solve the serious and excessive administrative tendency. Rely on government issues and truly return to the private sector." Du Liyuan, a lawyer from Beijing Zhongsheng Law Firm, suggested, "It is necessary to speed up the management legislation of industry associations, further clarify the nature, purpose, functions, management system, and supervision mechanism of industry associations, and promote them through marketization. For the development of industry associations, the country should use an iron fist to unify the pace of decoupling industry associations and governments across the country, strengthen the self-construction of industry associations, strengthen service functions, and make them truly represent the interests of industries and enterprises, and their credibility and authority are recognized by industry members. , A self-regulatory organization in line with international practice." Zhu Lijia, a professor at the National School of Administration, believes that the survival and development of industry associations must be realized through the market.In order to truly realize civilization and autonomy, industry associations must have no administrative level, no administrative establishment, and no administrative department in charge.The purpose of serving enterprises must be realized through the market.It is necessary to deepen reforms to promote industry associations to "voluntarily initiate, self-select president, self-raise funds, self-employed personnel, and self-contained conference affairs."Make its institutional members, funding sources, and codes of conduct all elected and formulated by industry members in accordance with the principles of democracy, so that the industry association can become an organization with the purpose of serving industry members.