Abstract
This chapter examines the extent to which there can be said to have been implementation into Chinese labour law of “fundamental labour rights” within a framework of the ILO’s international standard-setting activities. Against a background of dramatic developments for labour law in the People's Republic of China (PRC)over the past two decades, modern arrangements for monitoring, supervising and enforcing labour rights are considered from both institutional and normative perspectives. The relationship between China and the ILO is explored from its nationalist pre-1949 origins through to resumption of active PRC engagement with international standard-setting after 1983. Consideration is given to formal ratification of “core” ILO Conventions, although it is stressed that merely compiling an “inventory” of PRC ratifications in this regard fails to reflect the extent to which Chinese labour law derives inspiration from a broader range of ILO instruments and international experience. There is clear evidence of influence from the international level upon the content and formulation of modern PRC labour law provisions. Consequently, the enquiry into whether, how, and to what extent the PRC implements ILO-inspired (or any other) labour rights, has to be directed to the effectiveness of the domestic framework for monitoring, supervising, and enforcing labour law rights generally. While there has been significant progress in relation to delivering “individual employment rights”, the same cannot be said in relation to “collective labour rights” in the “Western” sense. The chapter concludes by reflecting upon the prospects for further progress through what is now widely described in terms of “social management” for the PRC.
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Notes
- 1.
[Labour Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng fǎ), 1994.
- 2.
[Labour Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动合同法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng hé tóng fǎ), 2007.
- 3.
[Employment Promotion Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国就业促进法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó jiù yè cù jìn fǎ), 2007.
- 4.
Thus, for example, it is important – as is indicated below – to bear in mind that, within the historical context for China’s relationship with the ILO, pre-PRC China was a founding member of the ILO, while ratification of a variety of international standard-setting instruments was undertaken during the 1930s, at a time when nationalist China was developing a strengthening engagement with representatives of the ILO in Geneva.
- 5.
For consideration of a number of current debates in relation to regulation of the world of work in the PRC, see the contributions in Neal ed. 2014b.
- 6.
For specific comparisons between some of the Soviet and the Chinese provisions, see van den Berg 1983.
- 7.
The Labour Code of the RSFSR of 9 November 1922 (Kodeks Zakonov o Trude RSFSR 1922 goda) – together with its subsequent amendments (LS 1936 – Russ. 1, 1958 – USSR 1) – remained in force until the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR to repeal certain legislative texts of the RSFSR consequent upon the entry into force of the Labour Code of the RSFSR [LS 1971 – USSR 1]. The 1922 Labour Code itself included a number of provisions originally to be found in the 1918 Labour Code of the RSFSR. For clear evidence of this influence upon China, see the [Trade Union Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国工会法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó gōng huì fǎ), 1950.
- 8.
Kodeks Zakonov o Trude 1918.
- 9.
For an introductory survey of that period, see Butler 1983.
- 10.
[Labour Law of the Chinese Soviet Republic] 中华苏维埃共和国劳动法 (zhōng huá sū wéi āi gòng hé guó láo dòng fǎ), 1931; [Resolution on Implementing the Labour Law] 关于实施劳动法的决议案 (guān yú shí shī láo dòng fǎ de jué yì àn), 1931 and [Provisional Organisational Principles for Labour Sections of Chinese Soviets] 中华苏维埃共和国劳动感化院暂行章程 (zhōng huá sū wéi āi gòng hé guó láo dòng gǎn huà yuàn zàn xíng zhāng chéng), 1932.
- 11.
That body had been established on 1 May 1925 during the Second National Labour Congress, convened in Guangzhou (following the First Congress held in the same city in May 1922). With the adoption of a “Constitution of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions” and election of a first “Executive Committee”, the forerunner to what is now the modern All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) was thus launched. See Lee 1986, at pp. xi–xii and Traub-Merz 2011.
- 12.
[Labour Law of the Chinese Soviet Republic] 中华苏维埃共和国劳动法 (zhōng huá sū wéi āi gòng hé guó láo dòng fǎ), 1931, Article 72 and 73.
- 13.
Labour Code of the RSFSR, 1922, Article 151.
- 14.
Labour Code of the RSFSR, 1922, Article 156.
- 15.
Labour Code of the RSFSR, 1922, Article 158, (a)–(e). The provisions in the Labour Code themselves came under the umbrella of the 1918 Constitution of the RSFSR, which, for example, set out, in Article 16, various rights to be granted to these trade unions. See, for a brief historical context, Ashwin and Clarke 2002, at Chapter 2.
- 16.
[Trade Union Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国工会法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó gōng huì fǎ), 1950, Article 1.
- 17.
Ibid., Article 5.
- 18.
Ibid., Article 7.
- 19.
[Trade Union Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国工会法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó gōng huì fǎ), 1950, Article 9.
- 20.
For discussion of the institution of the “collective agreement” in the former socialist legal systems of Eastern Europe, see Schmidt and Neal 1984 and, in particular, the material derived from memoranda prepared by Professor Karel Witz and Professor Marie Kalenska (University of Prague, Czechoslovakia), at pp. 84 and following. An early post-war presentation of the phenomenon in a specific USSR setting (with historical references) is to be found in International Labour Review, 1952.
- 21.
See International Labour Review, 1952.
- 22.
Labour Code of the RSFSR, 1922, Article 21.
- 23.
Labour Code of the RSFSR, 1922, Article 16.
- 24.
[Trade Union Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国工会法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó gōng huì fǎ), 1950, Articles 5 and 6.
- 25.
Which took place in Xibaipo (Hebei) between 5 and 13 March 1949.
- 26.
Between 21 and 30 September 1949.
- 27.
[Common Programme of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference] 中国人民政治协商会议共同纲领 (zhōng guó rén mín zhèng zhì xié shāng huì yì gòng tóng gāng lǐng), 1949, Article 1.
- 28.
The “Cultural Revolution” was formally declared ended at the 11th Party Congress in 1977.
- 29.
Announced at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (18–22 December 1978). That policy marked a dramatic shift from the formerly “closed” relationships which the PRC had enjoyed with (primarily) the former USSR and its associated “satellite” states and heralded the beginning of a period for intense reform and the “opening up” of the PRC to markets around the world.
- 30.
See e.g., [Circular on Adjusting Wages for Certain Type of Workers] 国务院关于调整部分工人和工作人员工资的通知 (guó wù yuàn guān yú tiǎo zhěng bù fèn gōng rén hé gōng zuò rén yuán gōng zī de tōng zhī), 1971, and measures such as the [Circular on Wage Levels for Demobilized Soldiers with Higher Education Degrees] 国家计划委员会劳动局关于复员退伍军人中的大专院校学生工资待遇的通知 (guó jiā jì huà wěi yuán huì láo dòng jú guān yú fù yuán tuì wǔ jūn rén zhōng de dà zhuān yuàn xiào xué shēng gōng zī dài yù de tōng zhī), 1975.
- 31.
See e.g., [Provisions on the Qualifying Period of Seniority and Wage Issues relating to Anti-Revolutionary or Other ‘Bad’ Individuals who have been indentified in the Counter Anti-Revolutionary Movement] 关于处理国家机关、企业、学校在肃反运动中查出的反革命分子和其他坏分子的工龄和工资问题的规定 (guān yú chǔ lǐ guó jiā jī guān, qǐ yè, xué xiào zài sù fǎn yùn dòng zhōng chá chū de fǎn gé mìng fèn zǐ hé qí tā huài fèn zǐ de gōng líng hé gōng zī wèn tí de guī dìng), 1957, as well as [Opinion as to whether the Children of Capitalist Bourgeois are Eligible to Replace their Parent when they Retire or are on Long-Term Absence] 劳动部、中央工商行政管理局关于资产阶级工商业者退休或请长假后可否由子女顶替工作的意见 (láo dòng bù, zhōng yāng gōng shāng xíng zhèng guǎn lǐ jú guān yú zī chǎn jiē jí gōng shāng yè zhě tuì xiū huò qǐng cháng jià hòu kě fǒu yóu zǐ nǚ dǐng tì gōng zuò de yì jiàn), 1963.
- 32.
Neal 2011.
- 33.
See the attribution by Rodearmel 1988, at p. 43.
- 34.
See van der Sprenkel 1983, at p. 113.
- 35.
See Leng 1977, at pp. 356–357. The discussion is taken as a prelude to discussion focused upon penal law, and not addressed specifically to regulation of the world of work. Thus, consideration of regulation in relation to labour is only undertaken by the author in the context of the Chinese notion of “education and rehabilitation through labour”.
- 36.
[Circular on Resolving Issues for Those who have been Mistreated and Wish to Return to the City to Work] 中共中央、国务院关于处理当前部分人员要求复职复工回城就业等问题的通知 (zhōng gòng zhōng yāng guó wù yuàn guān yú chǔ lǐ dāng qián bù fèn rén yuán yāo qiú fù zhí fù gōng huí chéng jiù yè děng wèn tí de tōng zhī), 1979.
- 37.
[Circular on Prohibiting Workers Gaining Extra Profits from Unreasonable Economic Activities] 关于制止企业职工从事不正当经济活动牟取额外收入问题的通知 (guān yú zhì zhǐ qǐ yè zhí gōng cóng shì bù zhèng dāng jīng jì huó dòng móu qǔ é wài shōu rù wèn tí de tōng zhī), 1982.
- 38.
[Constitution of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国宪法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó xiàn fǎ), 1982.
- 39.
[Provisions on Mining Safety] 矿山安全条例 (kuàng shān ān quán tiáo lì) and [Provisions on Mining Safety Inspection] 矿山安全监察条例 (kuàng shān ān quán jiān chá tiáo lì), 1982.
- 40.
- 41.
- 42.
[Disabled Persons Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国残疾人保障法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó cán jí rén bǎo zhàng fǎ), 1991.
- 43.
- 44.
[Mining Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国矿山安全法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó kuàng shān ān quán fǎ), 1992; [Provisions on Workers’ Working Time] 国务院关于职工工作时间的规定 (guó wù yuàn guān yú zhí gōng gōng zuò shí jiān de guī dìng), 1994; [Occupational Training Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国职业教育法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó zhí yè jiào yù fǎ), 1996.
- 45.
See the brief note in Taylor et al. 2003, at p. 28, fn. 15.
- 46.
[Interim Regulations on the Practice of the Labour Contract System in State-Owned Enterprises] 国营企业实行劳动合同制暂行规定 (guó yíng qǐ yè shí xíng láo dòng hé tóng zhì zàn xíng guī dìng), 1986.
- 47.
[Sino-Foreign Co-operative Joint Venture Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国中外合作经营企业法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó zhōng wài hé zuò jīng yíng qǐ yè fǎ), 1988.
- 48.
[Interim Measures for the State Council on an Employee’s Retirement and Withdrawal from Post] 国务院关于工人退休、退职的暂行办法 (guó wù yuàn guān yú gōng rén tuì xiū tuì zhí de zàn xíng bàn fǎ), 1978.
- 49.
[Provisions of the State Council on Employees’ Family Leave] 国务院关于职工探亲待遇的规定 (guó wù yuàn guān yú zhí gōng tàn qīn dài yù de guī dìng), 1981.
- 50.
[Regulations on Rewarding and Disciplining Employees in Enterprises] 企业职工奖惩条例 (qǐ yè zhí gōng jiǎng chéng tiáo lì), 1982.
- 51.
[Labour Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng fǎ), 1994.
- 52.
Jia and Wei 2014.
- 53.
On the way, the original draft underwent no less than 17 revisions in its first developmental period, before being “put on the shelf” in the wake of consideration by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, in 1983, and further consideration and revision by the Legislative Affairs Office of the NPC in February 1984. Thereafter, following the establishment of a new “Task Force” in February 1989, a fresh draft emerged in June 1989, and – by now, in the context of China seeking to establish a modern “socialist market economy”, with labour relationships based upon a “labour contract system” – the final version was eventually agreed after a total of more than 30 revisions.
- 54.
Jia and Wei 2014.
- 55.
For a detailed presentation of the 1994 Labour Law at the time of its enactment, see Josephs 1995.
- 56.
- 57.
[Jia] 贾俊玲 1994.
- 58.
Jia 1999, at p. 12.
- 59.
Of particular importance in this regard was the Ministry of Labour’s “blueprint” for labour laws, set out in its [Opinions on the Implementation of Labour Law] 劳动部关于贯彻实施《劳动法》的意见 (láo dòng bù guān yú guàn chè shí shī “láo dòng fǎ” de yì jiàn), 1994. Amongst the numerous instruments introduced under this “blueprint” have been [Regulations providing for Revision of Rules on Working Hours] 国务院关于职工工作时间的规定 (guó wù yuàn guān yú zhí gōng gōng zuò shí jiān de guī dìng), 1995; [Temporary Rules on Wage Payment] 工资支付暂行规定 (gōng zī zhī fù zàn xíng guī dìng), 1994; [Economic Compensation Measures for Violation or Illegal Termination of Labour Contracts] 违反和解除劳动合同的经济补偿办法 (wéi fǎn hé jiě chú láo dòng hé tóng de jīng jì bǔ cháng bàn fǎ), 1994; [Rules on Vocational Training] 职业培训实体管理规定 (zhí yè péi xùn shí tǐ guǎn lǐ guī dìng), 1994; [Rules on Labour Inspection Procedures] 劳动监察程序规定 (láo dòng jiān chá chéng xù guī dìng), 1995; [Regulations on the Implementation of the Mine Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国矿山安全法实施条例 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó kuàng shān ān quán fǎ shí shī tiáo lì), 1996; [Rules on Minimum Wages] 最低工资规定 (zuì dī gōng zī guī dìng), 2004; and [Regulations on Unemployment Insurance] 失业保险条例 (shī yè bǎo xiǎn tiáo lì), 1999. Other significant measures in this period have included [Trial Measures on Collective Negotiation of Wages] 工资集体协商试行办法 (gōng zī jí tǐ xié shāng shì xíng bàn fǎ), 2000 and [Rules on Collective Contracts] 集体合同规定 (jí tǐ hé tóng guī dìng), 2004; while the important [Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国职业病防治法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó zhí yè bìng fáng zhì fǎ), 2001; and [Occupational Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国安全生产法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó ān quán shēng chǎn fǎ), 2002 were also introduced at this time.
- 60.
- 61.
[Labour Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动合同法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng hé tóng fǎ), 2007.
- 62.
[Regulations on the Implementation of the Labour Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动合同法实施条例 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng hé tóng fǎ shí shī tiáo lì), 2008.
- 63.
[Fourth Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court on Certain Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Trial of Labour Disputes] 最高人民法院关于审理劳动争议案件适用法律若干问题的解释(四) (zuì gāo rén mín fǎ yuàn guān yú shěn lǐ láo dòng zhēng yì àn jiàn shì yòng fǎ lǜ ruò gān wèn tí de jiě shì (sì)), 2012.
- 64.
[Employment Promotion Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国就业促进法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó jiù yè cù jìn fǎ), 2007.
- 65.
[Labour Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动争议调解仲裁法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng zhēng yì tiáo jiě zhòng cái fǎ), 2007.
- 66.
[Social Insurance Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国社会保险法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó shè huì bǎo xiǎn fǎ), 2011.
- 67.
- 68.
[Provisions on the Prohibition of Using Child Labour] 禁止使用童工规定 (jìn zhǐ shǐ yòng tóng gōng guī dìng), 2002.
- 69.
Article 23 of the original Covenant of the League of Nations provided that the Members of the League “…will endeavour to secure and maintain fair and humane conditions of labour for men, women, and children, both in their own countries and in all countries to which their commercial and industrial relations extend, and for that purpose will establish and maintain the necessary international organisations…”. Part XIII of the Treaty of Peace of Versailles, 1919, included provisions on “Labour” (Articles 387–426), which established the International Labour Office and set out the basis upon which the modern constitution of the ILO has been developed. The first meeting of the Annual Labour Conference took place in Washington in October 1919.
- 70.
In particular, a number of technical Conventions were ratified during the 1930s, beginning in May 1930 with the Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention No. 26, 1928, and in June of the following year, the Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) Convention No. 27, 1929. Then followed ratification of the Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention No. 11, 1921, and the Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention No. 19, 1925, in April 1934, together with the Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention No. 14, 1921, only weeks later. At the end of November 1935 the Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention (Revised) No. 32, 1932, was ratified, paving the way for a further group of six Conventions to be ratified on 2 December 1936. This important “volume” step involved the Minimum Age (Sea) Convention No. 7, 1920; the Minimum Age (Trimmers and Stokers) Convention No. 15, 1921; the Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention No. 16, 1921; the Seamen’s Articles of Agreement Convention No. 22, 1926; the Repatriation of Seamen Convention, No. 23, 1926; and the Underground Work (Women) Convention No. 45, 1935. Finally, 1940 saw ratification of the Minimum Age (Industry) Convention (Revised) No. 59, 1937; while the ending of the Second World War saw ratification in 1947 of one final pre-PRC instrument, in the shape of the Final Articles Revision Convention No. 80, 1946. While the ratifications of the majority of those instruments remain in force, three of them – Conventions No. 7, No. 15 and No. 59 – were subject to automatic denunciation in 2000 by reason of the adoption of the Minimum Age Convention No. 138, 1973 – one of the ILO’s “core” Conventions, which the PRC ratified on 28 April 1999.
- 71.
Thomas 1921, at pp. 20–21.
- 72.
Ibid., at p. 21.
- 73.
- 74.
See, for example, the contributions by a group of leading Soviet scholars to Butler et al. 1987.
- 75.
Thus, simply to provide a flavour of this continuing discomfort, it is instructive to select – and this represents only one of many possible selections which could be made to the same end – observations in relation to the report on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention No. 87, which include the following: “The Government states that Soviet law and practice afford the trade unions more favourable conditions of existence, operation and independence than those prescribed by the Convention. It adds that the provisions laid down in the Convention were put into effect in the Soviet Union long before their adoption by the I.L.O. It therefore considers that there is no need for any amendment to its legislation, which meets and even surpasses the standards set by the Convention…”; and “…In conclusion the Government states that, as a result of the structure and philosophy of the régime, the workers, and hence the unions, play an active part in all aspects of the country’s economic, social and cultural life. Evidence of this participation can be seen in their association in the drafting and subsequent enforcement of labour legislation”. See ILC, USSR Government report, 1957, at p. 83.
- 76.
ILO Declaration of Philadelphia 1944, at Part I.
- 77.
That focus has also to be seen in the context of the ILO’s “Decent Work” programme, flowing from the initiatives outlined in the Report of the Director-General, 1999, and the later submission by the Director-General to the Third WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle (30 November–3 December 1999). Attention should also be had to the “labour principles” of the UN Global Compact, which was formulated in 2000 as a voluntary partnership between UN agencies and businesses. See e.g., ILO, Labour Principles of the United Nations Global Compact, 2008, and the comments of Bellace 2013, 2014.
- 78.
The eight key instruments are: the Forced Labour Convention No. 29, the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention No. 87, the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention No. 98, the Equal Remuneration Convention No. 100, the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention No. 105, the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention No. 111, the Minimum Age Convention No. 138, and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention No. 182. There is also a ‘Follow-up procedure’ to the 1998 Declaration, involving annual reporting arrangements in relation to countries which have not yet ratified all of the “core” instruments, as well as the production of a Global Report (dealing, in turn, with the four designated areas of concern).
- 79.
ILO 1998 Declaration, at para 2. It is also important to note the 2008 Declaration to the effect that: “The Conference further recognises that, in a globalised economy: The implementation of Part I of this Declaration requires that the ILO effectively assist its Members in their efforts. To that end, the Organisation should review and adapt its institutional practices to enhance governance and capacity building in order to make the best use of its human and financial resources and of the unique advantage of its tri-partite structure and standards system…”. See ILO 2008 Declaration, at Part 2(A).
- 80.
The modern sensitivities still raised by the existence of the PRC and Taiwan are well illustrated by the ILO’s document ILO Country and Areas Designations and Rules for their Use, replacing ILO Circular 12/19 (Rev. 9) of 9 March 1992 and its addenda. That document sets out “the standard office nomenclature relating to country and area designations which must be used in all ILO publications and documents”, and provides that: “Taiwan should not be treated as a country, since its status is that of a province of the People’s Republic of China. If in exceptional cases it has to be mentioned in an ILO publication or document it should be referred to as Taiwan, China.” For an account of the political divisions at the time of the UN and ILO resolutions, see Ghebali, Ago and Valticos 1989.
- 81.
After the National Trade Union Federation had been reconstituted in 1978 following the ending of the period of the “cultural revolution” and the death of Mao Zedong.
- 82.
See Ghebali et al. 1989, at pp. 124–125.
- 83.
Memorandum of Understanding for co-operation between the ILO and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of China 2000.
- 84.
As, for example, in relation to various Conventions covering the physical security of workers (especially in the construction and mining sectors), or protection against the dangers posed by working with chemical and other hazardous agents.
- 85.
In particular, basic provisions to this effect contained in the [Labour Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng fǎ), 1994 have been complemented by stipulations in the [Employment Promotion Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国就业促进法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó jiù yè cù jìn fǎ), 2007.
- 86.
- 87.
See ILO, Committee on Legal Issues and International Labour Standards, 2008, at para. 20. For recent evaluation of activity in the PRC concerning ILO initiatives in this field, see ILO, Contributing to Realising Decent Work: ILO Decent Work Country Programme in the People’s Republic of China 2006–2010, 2010.
- 88.
See ILO, Decent Work Country Programme in the People’s Republic of China 2013–2015.
- 89.
On 28 December 2013. For some background on this issue, see [Prison Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国监狱法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó jiān yù fǎ), 1994, especially in Chapter V. See also the [Supplementary Provisions of the State Council for Rehabilitation Through Labour] 国务院关于劳动教养的补充规定 (guó wù yuàn guān yú láo dòng jiào yǎng de bǔ chōng guī ding), 1979.
- 90.
See, for example, the policy debates over “social management”, and, specifically in relation to “collective” labour market disputes, the discussions at the “Conflict and Co-operation: International Symposium on Collective Labour Dispute Resolution and Regulation”, hosted at the Remnin University, Beijing, on 17–18 December 2011. A selection of the contributions to that symposium can be found in a special edition of The International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations: see Issue 2 of Volume 29, 2013. Some scholars – including, in particular, Professor Chang Kai – have gone so far as to suggest that the Chinese position is beginning to take on “Western-style” collectivized features. However, it may be suggested that, on the basis of the evidence so far, such predictions remain largely in the realms of “wishful thinking” on the parts of those who would see modern developments in China progress along the “classical” lines of the model espoused by ILO Conventions No. 87 and No. 98. See e.g., Chang 2014.
- 91.
Namely, the Employment Policy Convention No. 122, 1964, and the Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention No. 144, 1976. Convention No. 144 was ratified on 2 November 1990 and Convention No. 122 on 17 December 1997.
- 92.
Thus, as well as the pre-1949 ratifications already alluded to, 1988 saw ratification of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention No. 159, 1983, followed by the Chemicals Convention No. 170, 1990, in 1995. China ratified two instruments in 2002: the Labour Administration Convention No. 150, 1978, and the Safety and Health in Construction Convention No. 167, 1988, and the Occupational Safety and Health Convention No. 155, 1981, in 2007.
- 93.
For a limited consideration of the evolution of labour codification in the USSR, see van den Berg 1975, at pp. 23–38.
- 94.
Labour Code of the RSFSR, 1922, Article 169.
- 95.
Labour Code of the RSFSR, 1922, Article 169–2.
- 96.
Labour Code of the RSFSR, 1922, Article 171.
- 97.
For an introductory survey of that period, see Butler 1983.
- 98.
[Resolution on Implementing the Labour Law] 关于实施劳动法的决议案 (guān yú shí shī láo dòng fǎ de jué yì àn), 1931.
- 99.
However, no instrument to that effect was actually adopted at the National Convention – this being at a time when the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) had still to establish itself as a ruling “nationalist government”.
- 100.
[Factory Law] 工厂法 (gōng chǎng fǎ), 1929.
- 101.
Edles 1969, discussing the content of the 1929 Factory Law, at p. 398. A detailed account of the Factory Law is provided by Kim 2009. “In June 1928, the Nationalist Government drew up the bill for the Labour Dispute Resolution Act (the Factory Act) and sent it to the Parliament in January 1929. The Parliament passed the Act in December 1929 at its 67th session, and it was promulgated forthwith. In December 1930, the Enforcement Ordinance of the Factory Act was promulgated.” See Kim 2009, at p. 230.
- 102.
See e.g., Edles 1969, at p. 400.
- 103.
- 104.
For an overview of the multiple layers and sources of regulation, see the presentation in Yan 2014.
- 105.
- 106.
[Provisions regarding the Procedure for Settling Labour Disputes] 关于劳动争议解决程序的规定 (guān yú láo dòng zhēng yì jiě jué chéng xù de guī dìng) and [Directive on Establishing Congresses for Worker-Employer Conciliation Inside Private Enterprises] 关于在私营企业中设立劳资协商会议的指示 (guān yú zài sī yíng qǐ yè zhōng shè lì láo zī xié shāng huì yì de zhǐ shì), 1950.
- 107.
This is described by Wang et al. 2003, at p. 6 in terms that: “Labour dispute settlement system was initiated in 1950, which was symbolised by the [Rules on Organisational Structure and Working Procedures of Municipal Labour Dispute Arbitration Committees] 劳动争议仲裁委员会组织及工作规则 (láo dòng zhēng yì zhòng cái wěi yuán huì zǔ zhī jí gōng zuò guī zé), enacted by the Ministry of Labour in June 1950, and [Regulations on Labour Dispute Settlement Procedure] 关于劳动争议解决程序的规定 (guān yú láo dòng zhēng yì jiě jué chéng xù de guī dìng) issued by the Ministry of Labour with approval of the State Administrative Council in November 1950.”
- 108.
[Regulations on Workers’ Congresses in State-Owned Enterprises] 全民所有制工业企业职工代表大会条例 (quán mín suǒ yǒu zhì gōng yè qǐ yè zhí gōng dài biǎo dà huì tiáo lì), 1986; [Interim Provisions on Dealing with Labour Dispute in State-Owned Enterprises] 国营企业劳动争议处理暂行规定 (guó yíng qǐ yè láo dòng zhēng yì chǔ lǐ zàn xíng guī dìng), 1987.
- 109.
For one of the few studies of labour arbitration arrangements in China, see Ho 2003.
- 110.
Thus, a set of Provisional Regulations on Settlement of Labour Disputes in State-Owned Enterprises was promulgated by the State Council on 31 July 1987, while a [Circular on Reinforcing Labour Arbitration Activities] 关于加强劳动仲裁工作的通知 (guān yú jiā qiáng láo dòng zhòng cái gōng zuò de tōng zhī) was issued in 1989 by the Ministry of Labour.
- 111.
[Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Settlement of Labour Disputes in Enterprises] 中华人民共和国企业劳动争议处理条例 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó qǐ yè láo dòng zhēng yì chǔ lǐ tiáo lì), 1993. This key instrument was accompanied by a Code of Conduct and Organisation of Labour Arbitration Committees 1993, drawn up by the Ministry of Labour.
- 112.
Which came into force on 1 August 1993.
- 113.
[Circular on Further Perfecting the Labour Dispute Settlement System] 劳动部关于进一步完善劳动争议处理工作的通知 (láo dòng bù guān yú jìn yī bù wán shàn láo dòng zhēng yì chǔ lǐ gōng zuò de tōng zhī), 1995.
- 114.
[Circular on Perfecting the Tripartite Labour Arbitration Mechanism] 关于进一步完善劳动争议仲裁三方机制的通知 (guān yú jìn yī bù wán shàn láo dòng zhēng yì zhòng cái sān fāng jī zhì de tōng zhī), 1996.
- 115.
[Trial Measures for Collective Salary Negotiation] 工资集体协商试行办法 (gōng zī jí tǐ xié shāng shì xíng bàn fǎ), 2000.
- 116.
[Circular on Promoting Equal Conciliation and a Collective Contract System] 关于进一步推行平等协商和集体合同制度的通知 (guān yú jìn yī bù tuī xíng píng děng xié shāng hé jí tǐ hé tóng zhì dù de tōng zhī), 2001.
- 117.
[Labour Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动争议调解仲裁法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng zhēng yì tiào jiě zhòng cái fǎ), 2007.
- 118.
However, it should be noted that the “one mediation” phase is not mandatory, so that, in practice, this initial component may fall away from the procedure. Indeed, it has been suggested in some quarters that, in the context of SOE privatization and restructuring at the turn of the Millennium (and, possibly, with increasing complexity of disputes arising), the importance of “first phase” mediation committees gradually faded. On the other hand, even if that proposition holds good, it appears that the more recent regulatory policy focus upon encouraging early mediation in labour disputes may have begun to reverse that trend.
- 119.
It should be noted that this is distinct from the provisions for mediation during court proceedings to be found under the [Civil Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国民事诉讼法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó mín shì sù sòng fǎ), 1991 (as revised in 2012), [Criminal Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国刑事诉讼法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó xíng shì sù sòng fǎ), 1979 (as revised in 2012) and [Administrative Litigation Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国行政诉讼法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó xíng zhèng sù sòng fǎ), 1989 (revised 2014). For an early discussion of those procedural arrangements, see Woo 1999 along with contributions by Turner et al. 2000.
- 120.
- 121.
Particular progress was made in Shenzhen, where a pilot so-called “Labour Arbitration Court” was established (with technical co-operation from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom government) – providing for a pattern which has subsequently been taken up in more than half of the provinces of the PRC. The same city also witnessed experimentation within the system of People’s Courts – notably with the designation of one division of the first instance People’s Court to deal exclusively with labour dispute matters.
- 122.
The scope of jurisdiction of Labour Arbitration Committees extends to cover wages, issues affecting the labour relationship (including termination of employment), social insurance issues (e.g. payment of social dues by the employer) and cases concerning occupational injuries.
- 123.
In particular, the [Labour Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng fǎ), 1994, Chapter 11 sets out fundamental supervision and inspection duties in this regard, extending across the whole spectrum of rights and duties established by that instrument.
- 124.
For a recent evaluation of the modern Chinese situation in relation to state-owned enterprises, see Chen and Chan 2010. An overview of the general framework for health, safety and hygiene protection at work is to be found in Guo 2014. Mention should also be made of the biennial “China International Fora on Work Safety”, organized between the ILO and the PRC’s State Administration of Work Safety. The 6th such Forum took place in 2012, and the 7th Forum took place in Beijing in September 2014.
- 125.
See e.g., [Regulations concerning Minimum Wages in Enterprises] 企业最低工资规定 (qǐ yè zuì dī gōng zī guī dìng), 1993, Article 22 placing responsibility for inspection in this field upon the departments of labour administration under the People’s Governments at various levels.
- 126.
One of the various areas for which the Labour Inspectorate (part of the Provincial and Area Labour Bureaux) is responsible for enforcing employment rights – particularly those deriving from the [Labour Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng fǎ), 1994. See, for an external perspective and overview of the general labour inspection arrangements, OECD 2005.
- 127.
Thus, primary supervision of the rights and duties under this Law is entrusted to social insurance administrative departments of the People’s Governments at and above the county level. See [Social Insurance Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国社会保险法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó shè huì bǎo xiǎn fǎ), 2010, Chapter X for the administrative and inspection arrangements, and see Chapter XI for the relevant sanctions attaching to failures to observe the Law. For a brief general overview of the Social Insurance Law, see Lin 2014.
- 128.
See e.g., the criminal sanctions provided for by the [Labour Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng fǎ), 1994, Articles 92 and 93, in relation to health, safety and hygiene – which represent the creation by that Law of specific criminal offences. Elsewhere, use of criminal law tends to be invoked in terms such as: “Any person who violates this Law shall be subject to criminal liability if the violation constitutes a crime”, [Social Insurance Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国社会保险法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó shè huì bǎo xiǎn fǎ), 2010, Article 94. Such an approach is to be found inter alia in Article 95 of the [Labour Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动合同法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng hé tóng fǎ), 2007.
- 129.
Something which may arise in the context of payment in accordance with minimum wage rates, or, more significantly, in the context of protective arrangements set out in the [Social Insurance Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国社会保险法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó shè huì bǎo xiǎn fǎ), 2010.
- 130.
These may include lack of adequate knowledge on the part of the worker, lack of resources to proceed with a claim, the absence of any accessible form of “legal aid” (whether from general State social provision or through the ACFTU), or, simply, an unwillingness to engage in a public confrontation for cultural reasons reflecting the long Chinese traditions of mediation and conciliation in relation to social disputes.
- 131.
- 132.
See the observations of Jia and Wei 2014, especially at p. 50.
- 133.
The most recent of these has been the [Fourth Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court on Certain Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Labour Dispute Cases] 最高人民法院关于审理劳动争议案件适用法律若干问题的解释(四) (zuì gāo rén mín fǎ yuàn guān yú shěn lǐ láo dòng zhēng yì àn jiàn shì yòng fǎ lǜ ruò gān wèn tí de jiě shì (sì)), 2013. That Fourth Interpretation followed the earlier [First Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court of Several Issues on the Application of Law in the Trial of Labour Dispute Cases] 最高人民法院关于审理劳动争议案件适用法律若干问题的解释(一) (zuì gāo rén mín fǎ yuàn guān yú shěn lǐ láo dòng zhēng yì àn jiàn shì yòng fǎ lǜ ruò gān wèn tí de jiě shì (yī)), 2001; the [Second Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court of Several Issues on the Application of Law in the Trial of Labour Dispute Cases] 最高人民法院关于审理劳动争议案件适用法律若干问题的解释(二) (zuì gāo rén mín fǎ yuàn guān yú shěn lǐ láo dòng zhēng yì àn jiàn shì yòng fǎ lǜ ruò gān wèn tí de jiě shì (èr)), 2006; and the [Third Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court of Several Issues on the Application of Law in the Trial of Labour Dispute Cases] 最高人民法院关于审理劳动争议案件适用法律若干问题的解释(三) (zuì gāo rén mín fǎ yuàn guān yú shěn lǐ láo dòng zhēng yì àn jiàn shì yòng fǎ lǜ ruò gān wèn tí de jiě shì (sān)), 2010.
- 134.
An important comparative methodology point regularly emphasized by the late Tore Sigeman. See Sigeman 1984. Sigeman uses an example from Horrebow 1758, at p. 91, where, describing the island of Iceland, Horrebow states: “Concerning snakes. No snakes of any kind are to be met with throughout the whole island.” See Sigeman 1984, at p. 291.
- 135.
“The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) adopted a resolution to abolish legal documents on re-education through labour, commonly known as ‘laojiao’, through a vote at its bi-monthly session on Saturday.” China Daily (Europe), ‘China abolishes re-education through labour’, 28 December 2013.
- 136.
Second follow-up [Report on the Implementation of the 2012 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the 2013 Draft Plan for National Economic and Social Development] 关于 2012 年国民经济和社会发展计划执行情况与 2013 年国民经济和社会发展计划草案的报告 (guān yú 2012 nián guó mín jīng jì hé shè huì fā zhǎn jì huà zhí xíng qíng kuàng yǔ 2013 nián guó mín jīng jì hé shè huì fā zhǎn jì huà cǎo àn de bào gào), 2013, building upon the earlier [Report on the Implementation of the 2011 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the 2012 Draft Plan for National Economic and Social Development] 关于 2011 年国民经济和社会发展计划执行情况与 2012 年国民经济和社会发展计划草案的报告 (guān yú 2011 nián guó mín jīng jì hé shè huì fā zhǎn jì huà zhí xíng qíng kuàng yǔ 2012 nián guó mín jīng jì hé shè huì fā zhǎn jì huà cǎo àn de bào gào), 2012.
- 137.
Neal 2014a, at p. 19.
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Documents and Official Publications
ILO Documents
Convention fixing the Minimum Age for Admission of Children to Employment at Sea, adopted 9 July 1920, ILO C007. Entry into force 27 September 1921. (Minimum Age (Sea) Convention).
Convention concerning the Rights of Association and Combination of Agricultural Workers, adopted 25 October 1921, ILO C011. Entry into force 11 May 1923. (Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention).
Convention concerning the Application of the Weekly Rest in Industrial Undertakings, adopted 17 November 1921, ILO C014. Entry into force 19 June 1923. (Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention).
Convention fixing the Minimum Age for the Admission of Young Persons to Employment as Trimmers or Stokers, adopted 11 November 1921, ILO C015. Entry into force 20 November 1922. (Minimum Age (Trimmers and Stokers) Convention).
Convention concerning the Compulsory Medical Examination of Children and Young Persons Employed at Sea, adopted 11 November 1921, ILO C016. Entry into force 22 November 1922. (Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention).
Convention concerning Equality of Treatment for National and Foreign Workers as regards Workmen’s Compensation for Accidents, adopted 9 June 1925, ILO C019. Entry into force 8 September 1926. (Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention).
Convention concerning Seamen’s Articles of Agreement, adopted 24 June 1926, ILO C022. Entry into force 4 April 1928. (Seamen’s Articles of Agreement Convention).
Convention concerning the Repatriation of Seamen, adopted 23 June 1926, ILO C023. Entry into force 16 April 1928. (Repatriation of Seamen Convention).
Convention concerning the Creation of Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery, adopted 16 June 1928, ILO C026. Entry into force 14 June 1930. (Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention).
Convention concerning the Marking of the Weight on Heavy Packages Transported by Vessels, adopted 21 June 1929, ILO C027. Entry into force 9 March 1932. (Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) Convention).
Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, adopted 28 June 1930, ILO C029. Entry into force 1 May 1932. (Forced Labour Convention).
Convention concerning the Protection against Accidents of Workers Employed in Loading or Unloading Ships (Revised), adopted 27 April 1932, ILO C032. Entry into force 30 October 1934. (Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention (Revised)).
Convention concerning the Employment of Women on Underground Work in Mines of all Kinds, adopted 21 June 1935, ILO C045. Entry into force 30 May 1937. (Underground Work (Women) Convention).
Convention Fixing the Minimum Age for Admission of Children to Industrial Employment (Revised 1937), adopted 22 June 1937, ILO C059. Entry into force 21 February 1941. (Minimum Age (Industry) Convention (Revised)).
Convention for the Partial Revision of the Conventions Adopted by the General Conference of the International Labour Organisation at Its First Twenty-eight Sessions for the Purpose of Making Provision for the Future Discharge of Certain Chancery Functions Entrusted by the Said Conventions to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations and Introducing therein Certain Further Amendments Consequential upon the Dissolution of the League of Nations and the Amendment of the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation, adopted 9 October 1946, ILO C080. Entry into force 28 May 1947. (Final Articles Revision Convention).
Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, adopted 9 July 1948, ILO C087. Entry into force 4 July 1950. (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention).
Convention concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, adopted 1 July 1949, ILO C098. Entry into force 18 July 1951. (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention).
Convention concerning Equal Remuneration, adopted 29 June 1951, ILO C100. Entry into force 23 May 1953.
Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, adopted 25 June 1957, ILO C105. Entry into force 17 January 1959. (Abolition of Forced Labour Convention).
Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, adopted 25 June 1958, ILO C111. Entry into force 15 June 1960. (Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention).
Convention concerning Employment Policy, adopted 9 July 1964, ILO C122. Entry into force 15 July 1966. (Employment Policy Convention).
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, adopted 26 June 1973, ILO C138. Entry into force 19 June 1976. (Minimum Age Convention).
Convention concerning Tripartite Consultations to Promote the Implementation of International Labour Standards, adopted 16 May 1978, ILO C144. Entry into force 16 May 1978 (Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention).
Convention concerning Labour Administration: Role, Functions and Organisation, adopted 26 June 1978, ILO C150. Entry into force 11 October 1980. (Labour Administration Convention).
Convention concerning Occupational Safety and Health and the Working Environment, adopted 22 June 1981, ILO C155. Entry into force 11 August 1983. (Safety and Health in Construction Convention).
Convention concerning Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons), adopted 20 June 1983, ILO C159. Entry into force 20 June 1985. (Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention).
Convention concerning Safety and Health in Construction, adopted 20 June 1988, ILO C167. Entry into force 11 January 1991. (Safety and Health in Construction Convention).
Convention concerning Safety in the Use of Chemicals at Work, adopted 25 June 1990, ILO C170. (Chemicals Convention).
Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, adopted 17 June 1999, ILO C182. Entry into force 19 November 2000. (Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention).
Declaration concerning the Aims and Purposes of the International Labour Organisation, adopted 10 May 1944. (Declaration of Philadelphia).
Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 86th Session, Geneva, 18 June 1998. (1998 Declaration).
Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 97th Session, Geneva, 10 June 2008. (2008 Declaration).
Other ILO Documentation
Committee on Legal Issues and International Labour Standards, Ratification and promotion of fundamental ILO Conventions, GB.303/LILS/5. 7 November 2008.
Contributing to Realising Decent Work: ILO Decent Work Country Programme in the People’s Republic of China 2006–2010. 2010. Geneva: International Labour Office.
Decent Work. Report of the Director-General to the 87th Session of the International Labour Conference. 1999. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc87/rep-i.htm. Last accessed 19 June 2015.
Decent Work for All in a Global Economy: An ILO Perspective. Speech of the Director-General to the Third WTO Ministerial Conference. 30 November to 3 December 1999. Seattle. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/dgo/speeches/somavia/1999/seattle.htm. Last accessed 19 June 2015.
Decent Work Country Programme in the People’s Republic of China 2013–2015. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/program/dwcp/download/china.pdf. Last accessed 19 June 2015.
Defending Values, Promoting Change. Report of the Director-General to the 81st Session of the International Labour Conference. 1994. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc86/rep-vii.htm. Last accessed 19 June 2015.
ILO Country and Areas Designations and Rules for their Use (replacing ILO Circular 12/19 (Rev. 9) of 9 March 1992). 2013. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ctry-ndx.htm. Last accessed 19 June 2015.
Labour Principles of the United Nations Global Compact: A Guide for Business. 2008. Geneva: International Labour Office.
Memorandum of Understanding for co-operation between the ILO and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of China. 2000. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/beijing/countries-covered/WCMS_144733/lang––en/index.htm. Last accessed 19 June 2015.
USSR Government Report on Convention 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise) 1948. 40th Session of the International Labour Conference. 1957. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/libdoc/ilo/P/09661/09661(1957-40).pdf. Last accessed 19 June 2015.
Other International Law Sources
League of Nations, Covenant of the League of Nations, adopted 28 April 1919. Entry into force 10 January 1920.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2005. Governance in China: China in the global economy. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919. Entry into force 10 January 1920.
UN General Assembly. Resolution on the Restoration of the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nation. GA Res. 2758, U.N. Doc. A7RES/2758(XXVI), 25 October 1971.
Chinese Regulation
Laws by the National People’s Congress
[Administrative Litigation Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国行政诉讼法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó xíng zhèng sù sòng fǎ), National People’s Congress, adopted 4 April 1989, effective 1 October 1990. Revised and effective 1 November 2014.
[Civil Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国民事诉讼法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó mín shì sù sòng fǎ), National People’s Congress, adopted and effective 9 April 1991. Revised and effective 31 August 2012.
[Constitution of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国宪法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó xiàn fǎ), National People’s Congress, adopted and effective 20 September 1954.
[Constitution of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国宪法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó xiàn fǎ), National People’s Congress, adopted and effective 17 January 1975.
[Constitution of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国宪法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó xiàn fǎ), National People’s Congress, adopted and effective 5 March 1978.
[Constitution of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国宪法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó xiàn fǎ), National People’s Congress, adopted and effective 4 December 1982. Available at: http://english.people.com.cn/constitution/constitution.html. Last accessed 19 June 2015.
[Criminal Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国刑事诉讼法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó xíng shì sù sòng fǎ), National People’s Congress, adopted 1 July 1979, effective 1 January 1980. Revised 15 March 2012, effective 1 January 2013.
[Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women] 中华人民共和国妇女权益保障法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó fù nǚ quán yì bǎo zhàng fǎ), National People’s Congress, adopted 3 April 1992, effective 1 October 1992. Revised and effective 18 August 2005.
[Trade Union Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国工会法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó gōng huì fǎ), Central People’s Government Commission, adopted 28 June 1950, effective 29 June 1950.
[Trade Union Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国工会法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó gōng huì fǎ), National People’s Congress, adopted and effective 3 April 1992. Revised and effective 27 October 2001.
Laws by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress
[Disabled Persons Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国残疾人保障法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó cán jí rén bǎo zhàng fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 28 December 1991, effective 15 May 1991. Revised 24 April 2008, effective 1 July 2008.
[Employment Promotion Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国就业促进法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó jiù yè cù jìn fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 30 August 2007, effective 1 January 2008. Revised and effective 24 April 2015.
[Labour Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动合同法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng hé tóng fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 29 June 2007, effective 1 January 2008. Revised 28 December 2012, effective 1 July 2013.
[Labour Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动争议调解仲裁法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng zhēng yì tiáo jiě zhòng cái fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 29 December 2007, effective 1 May 2008.
[Labour Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 5 July 1994, effective 1 January 1995.
[Mining Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国矿山安全法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó kuàng shān ān quán fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 7 November 1992, effective 1 May 1993.
[Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国职业病防治法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó zhí yè bìng fáng zhì fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 27 October 2001, effective 1 May 2002. Revised and effective 31 December 2011.
[Occupational Training Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国职业教育法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó zhí yè jiào yù fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 15 May 1996, effective 1 September 1996.
[Occupational Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国安全生产法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó ān quán shēng chǎn fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 29 June 2002, effective 1 November 2002. Revised 31 August 2014, effective 1 December 2014.
[Prison Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国监狱法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó jiān yù fǎ), Standing Committee of the Eighth National People’s Congress, adopted and effective 29 December 1994.
[Sino-Foreign Co-operative Joint Venture Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国中外合作经营企业法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó zhōng wài hé zuò jīng yíng qǐ yè fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 13 April 1988, effective 13 April 1988.
[Social Insurance Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国社会保险法 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó shè huì bǎo xiǎn fǎ), Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted 28 October 2010, effective 1 July 2011.
Regulations by the State Council
[Circular on Adjusting Wages for Certain Types of Workers] 国务院关于调整部分工人和工作人员工资的通知 (guó wù yuàn guān yú tiào zhěng bù fēn gōng rén hé gōng zuò rén yuán gōng zī de tōng zhī), State Council, adopted and effective 30 November 1971.
[Circular on Prohibiting Workers Gaining Extra Profits from Unreasonable Economic Activities] 关于制止企业职工从事不正当经济活动牟取额外收入问题的通知 (guān yú zhì zhǐ qǐ yè zhí gōng cóng shì bù zhèng dāng jīng jì huó dòng móu qǔ é wài shōu rù wèn tí de tōng zhī), State Council, adopted and effective 28 April 1982.
[Circular on Resolving Issues for Those Who have been Mistreated and Wish to Return to the City to Work] 中共中央、国务院关于处理当前部分人员要求复职复工回城就业等问题的通知 (zhōng gòng zhōng yāng, guó wù yuàn guān yú chǔ lǐ dāng qián bù fèn rén yuán yāo qiú fù zhí fù gōng huí chéng jiù yè děng wèn tí de tōng zhī), CCP Central Committee and State Council, adopted and effective 4 June 1979.
[Interim Measures for the State Council on an Employee’s Retirement and Withdrawal from Post] 国务院关于工人退休、退职的暂行办法 (guó wù yuàn guān yú gōng rén tuì xiū tuì zhí de zàn xíng bàn fǎ), State Council, adopted 24 May 1978, effective 2 June 1978.
[Interim Provisions on Dealing with Labour Disputes in State-Owned Enterprises] 国营企业劳动争议处理暂行规定 (guó yíng qǐ yè láo dòng zhēng yì chǔ lǐ zàn xíng guī dìng) State Council, adopted 31 July 1987, effective 15 August 1987.
[Interim Regulations on the Practice of the Labour Contract System in State-Owned Enterprises] 国营企业实行劳动合同制暂行规定 (guó yíng qǐ yè shí xíng láo dòng hé tóng zhì zàn xíng guī dìng), State Council, 12 July 1986, effective 1 October 1986.
[Labour Insurance Regulations of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动保险条例 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng bǎo xiǎn tiáo lì), Government Affairs Council, adopted 23 February 1951 and effective 1 March 1951.
[Provisions on Employees’ Family Leave] 国务院关于职工探亲待遇的规定 (guó wù yuàn guān yú zhí gōng tàn qīn dài yù de guī dìng). State Council, 6 March 1981, effective 14 March 1981.
[Provisions on Mining Safety] 矿山安全条例 (kuàng shān ān quán tiáo lì), State Council, adopted 13 February 1982, effective 1 July 1982. Abolished 15 January 2008.
[Provisions on Mining Safety Inspection] 矿山安全监察条例 (kuàng shān ān quán jiān chá tiáo lì), State Council, 13 February 1982, effective 1 July 1982. Abolished 15 January 2008.
[Provisions on the Prohibition of Using Child Labour] 禁止使用童工规定 (jìn zhǐ shǐ yòng tóng gōng guī dìng), State Council, adopted and effective 15 April 1991. Abolished 1 December 2002.
[Provisions on the Prohibition of Using Child Labour] 禁止使用童工规定 (jìn zhǐ shǐ yòng tóng gōng guī dìng), State Council, adopted 1 October 2002, effective 1 December 2002.
[Provisions on Protecting Female Workers] 女职工劳动保护规定 (nǚ zhí gōng láo dòng bǎo hù guī dìng), State Council, adopted 21 July 1988, effective 1 September 1988. Abolished 28 April 2012.
[Provisions on Qualifying Period of Seniority and Wage Issues relating to Anti-Revolutionary or Other ‘Bad’ Individuals who have been identified in the Counter Anti-Revolutionary Movement] 关于处理国家机关、企业、学校在肃反运动中查出的反革命分子和其他坏分子的工龄和工资问题的规定 (guān yú chǔ lǐ guó jiā jī guān, qǐ yè, xué xiào zài sù fǎn yùn dòng zhōng chá chū de fǎn gé mìng fèn zǐ hé qí tā huài fèn zǐ de gōng líng hé gōng zī wèn tí de guī dìng), State Council, adopted and effective 9 August 1957.
[Provisions on Workers’ Working Time] 国务院关于职工工作时间的规定 (guó wù yuàn guān yú zhí gōng gōng zuò shí jiān de guī dìng), State Council, adopted 17 February 1995, effective 1 May 1995.
[Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Settlement of Labour Disputes in Enterprises] 中华人民共和国企业劳动争议处理条例 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó qǐ yè láo dòng zhēng yì chǔ lǐ tiáo lì), State Council, adopted 11 June 1993, effective 1 August 1993. Abolished 8 January 2011.
[Regulations on the Implementation of the Labour Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国劳动合同法实施条例 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó láo dòng hé tóng fǎ shí shī tiáo lì), State Council, adopted and effective 18 September 2008.
[Regulations on the Implementation of the Mine Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China] 中华人民共和国矿山安全法实施条例 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó kuàng shān ān quán fǎ shí shī tiáo lì), State Council, adopted 11 October 1996, effective 30 October 1996.
[Regulations on Rewarding and Disciplining Employees in Enterprises] 企业职工奖惩条例 (qǐ yè zhí gōng jiǎng chéng tiáo lì), State Council, adopted and effective 10 April 1982. Abolished 15 January 2008.
[Regulations on Unemployment Insurance] 失业保险条例 (shī yè bǎo xiǎn tiáo lì), State Council, adopted and effective 22 January 1999.
[Regulations on Workers’ Congresses in State-Owned Enterprises] 全民所有制工业企业职工代表大会条例 (quán mín suǒ yǒu zhì gōng yè qǐ yè zhí gōng dài biǎo dà huì tiáo lì), CCP Central Committee and State Council, adopted 15 September 1986, effective 1 October 1986.
[Supplementary Provisions of the State Council for Re-education through Labour] 国务院关于劳动教养的补充规定 (guó wù yuàn guān yú láo dòng jiào yǎng de bǔ chōng guī dìng), State Council, adopted and effective 29 November 1979. Abolished 28 December 2013.
Administrative Regulations
[Circular on Further Perfecting the Labour Dispute Settlement System] 劳动部关于进一步完善劳动争议处理工作的通知 (láo dòng bù guān yú jìn yī bù wán shàn láo dòng zhēng yì chǔ lǐ gōng zuò de tōng zhī), Ministry of Labour, adopted and effective 9 May 1995.
[Circular on Implementing the Provisions on the Prohibition of Using Child Labour] 关于贯彻落实《禁止使用童工规定》的通知 (guān yú guàn chè luò shí “jìn zhǐ shǐ yòng tóng gōng guī dìng” de tōng zhī), promulgated jointly by Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ministry of Public Security, State Administration for Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, All-China Federation of Trade Unions, Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and All-China Women’s Federation, adopted and effective 18 April 2003.
[Circular on Perfecting the Tripartite Labour Arbitration Mechanism] 关于进一步完善劳动争议仲裁三方机制的通知 (guān yú jìn yī bù wán shàn láo dòng zhēng yì zhòng cái sān fāng jī zhì de tōng zhī), promulgated jointly by the Ministry of Labour, All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the State Economic and Trade Commission, adopted and effective 18 March 1996.
[Circular on Promoting Equal Conciliation and a Collective Contract System] 关于进一步推行平等协商和集体合同制度的通知 (guān yú jìn yī bù tuī xíng píng děng xié shāng hé jí tǐ hé tóng zhì dù de tōng zhī), Ministry of Labour and Social Security, adopted and effective 14 November 2001.
[Circular on Reinforcing Labour Arbitration Activities] 关于加强劳动仲裁工作的通知 (guān yú jiā qiáng láo dòng zhòng cái gōng zuò de tōng zhī), Ministry of Labour and Social Security, adopted and effective 26 May 1989.
[Circular on Strictly Prohibiting the Use of Child Labour] 劳动人事部关于严格禁止招用童工的通知 (láo dòng rén shì bù guān yú yán gé jìn zhǐ zhāo yòng tóng gōng de tōng zhī), Ministry of Labour and Personnel, adopted and effective 23 June 1987.
[Circular on Wage Levels for Demobilized Soldiers with Higher Education Degrees] 国家计划委员会劳动局关于复员退伍军人中的大专院校学生工资待遇的通知 (guó jiā jì huà wěi yuán huì láo dòng jú guān yú fù yuán tuì wǔ jūn rén zhōng de dà zhuān yuàn xiào xué shēng gōng zī dài yù de tōng zhī), Labour Bureau of State Planning and Revolutionary Committee, adopted and effective 22 August 1975. Abolished 10 December 1986.
[Directive on Establishing Congresses for Worker-Employer Conciliation Inside Private Enterprises] 关于在私营企业中设立劳资协商会议的指示 (guān yú zài sī yíng qǐ yè zhōng shè lì láo zī xié shāng huì yì de zhǐ shì), Ministry of Labour, adopted 21 April 1950, effective 29 April 1950.
[Economic Compensation Measures for Violation or Illegal Termination of Labour Contracts] 违反和解除劳动合同的经济补偿办法 (wéi fǎn hé jiě chú láo dòng hé tóng de jīng jì bǔ cháng bàn fǎ), Ministry of Labour, adopted 3 December 1994, effective 1 January 1995.
[Measure on Registering Unemployed Persons] 关于失业人员统—登记办法 (guān yú shī yè rén yuán tǒng yī dēng jì bàn fǎ), Government Affairs Council, adopted and effective 27 August 1952.
[Opinion as to whether the Children of Capitalist Bourgeois are Eligible to Replace their Parent when they Retire or are on Long-Term Absence] 劳动部、中央工商行政管理局关于资产阶级工商业者退休或请长假后可否由子女顶替工作的意见 (láo dòng bù, zhōng yāng gōng shāng xíng zhèng guǎn lǐ jú guān yú zī chǎn jiē jí gōng shāng yè zhě tuì xiū huò qǐng cháng jiǎ hòu kě fǒu yóu zǐ nǚ dǐng tì gōng zuò de yì jiàn), Ministry of Labour and Central Administrative Bureau of Industry and Commerce, adopted and effective 9 February 1963.
[Opinions on the Implementation of Labour Law] 劳动部关于贯彻实施《劳动法》的意见 (láo dòng bù guān yú guàn chè shí shī “láo dòng fǎ” de yì jiàn), Ministry of Labour, adopted and effective 22 August 1994.
[Provisions regarding the Procedure for Settling Labour Disputes] 关于劳动争议解决程序的规定 (guān yú láo dòng zhēng yì jiě jué chéng xù de guī dìng), Ministry of Labour, adopted 16 November 1950, effective 26 November 1950.
[Provisions on Collective Contracts] 集体合同规定 (jí tǐ hé tóng guī dìng), Ministry of Labour, adopted 5 December 1994, effective 1 January 1995. Abolished 20 May 2004.
[Regulations concerning Minimum Wages in Enterprises] 企业最低工资规定 (qǐ yè zuì dī gōng zī guī dìng), Ministry of Labour, adopted and effective 24 November 1993. Abolished 1 March 2004.
[Rules on Collective Contracts] 集体合同规定 (jí tǐ hé tóng guī dìng), Ministry of Labour and Social Security, adopted 30 December 2003, effective 1 May 2004.
[Rules on Labour Inspection Procedures] 劳动监察程序规定 (láo dòng jiān chá chéng xù guī dìng), Ministry of Labour, adopted and effective 20 December 1995. Abolished 1 February 2005.
[Rules on Minimum Wages] 最低工资规定 (zuì dī gōng zī guī dìng), Ministry of Labour and Social Security, adopted 20 January 2004, effective 1 March 2004.
[Rules on Organization Structure and Working Procedures of Municipal Labour Dispute Arbitration Committees] 劳动争议仲裁委员会组织及工作规则 (láo dòng zhēng yì zhòng cái wěi yuán huì zǔ zhī jí gōng zuò guī zé), Ministry of Labour, adopted and effective 16 June 1950.
[Rules on Vocational Training] 职业培训实体管理规定 (zhí yè péi xùn shí tǐ guǎn lǐ guī dìng), Ministry of Labour, adopted 14 December 1994, effective 1 January 1995. Abolished 9 November 2007.
[Temporary Rules on Wage Payment] 工资支付暂行规定 (gōng zī zhī fù zàn xíng guī dìng), Ministry of Labour, adopted 6 December 1994, effective 1 January 1995.
[Trial Measures on Collective Negotiation of Wages] 工资集体协商试行办法 (gōng zī jí tǐ xié shāng shì xíng bàn fǎ), Ministry of Labour and Social Security, adopted and effective 8 November 2000.
Regulations of the Chinese Soviet Republic
[Labour Law of the Chinese Soviet Republic] 中华苏维埃共和国劳动法 (zhōng huá sū wéi āi gòng hé guó láo dòng fǎ), People’s Commissariat of Labour, adopted and effective 7 November 1931.
[Provisional Organisational Principles for Labour Sections of Chinese Soviets] 中华苏维埃共和国劳动感化院暂行章程 (zhōng huá sū wéi āi gòng hé guó láo dòng gǎn huà yuàn zàn xíng zhāng chéng), People’s Commissariat of Labour, adopted 10 August 1932, effective 15 August 1932.
[Resolution on Implementing the Labour Law] 关于实施劳动法的决议案 (guān yú shí shī láo dòng fǎ de jué yì àn), Chinese Soviet Republic Interim Central Government, adopted 21 December 1931, effective 1 June 1932.
Other Chinese Official Documents
[Common Programme of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference] 中国人民政治协商会议共同纲领 (zhōng guó rén mín zhèng zhì xié shāng huì yì gòng tóng gāng lǐng), adopted and effective 29 September 1949.
[Declaration of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party] 第十一届中央委员会第三次全体会议剬报 (dì shí yī jiè zhōng yāng wěi yuán huì dì sān cì quán tǐ huì yì gōng bào), adopted 22 December 1978.
[Factory Law] 工厂法 (gōng chǎng fǎ), Nationalist Government, adopted and effective 21 December 1929.
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[Fourth Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court on Certain Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Labour Dispute Cases] 最高人民法院关于审理劳动争议案件适用法律若干问题的解释(四) (zuì gāo rén mín fǎ yuàn guān yú shěn lǐ láo dòng zhēng yì àn jiàn shì yòng fǎ lǜ ruò gān wèn tí de jiě shì (sì)), adopted 31 December 2012, effective 1 February 2013.
[Second Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court of Several Issues on the Application of Law in the Trial of Labour Dispute Cases] 最高人民法院关于审理劳动争议案件适用法律若干问题的解释(二) (zuì gāo rén mín fǎ yuàn guān yú shěn lǐ láo dòng zhēng yì àn jiàn shì yòng fǎ lǜ ruò gān wèn tí de jiě shì (èr)), adopted 10 July 2006, effective 1 October 2006.
[Third Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court of Several Issues on the Application of Law in the Trial of Labour Dispute Cases] 最高人民法院关于审理劳动争议案件适用法律若干问题的解释(三) (zuì gāo rén mín fǎ yuàn guān yú shěn lǐ láo dòng zhēng yì àn jiàn shì yòng fǎ lǜ ruò gān wèn tí de jiě shì (sān)), adopted 12 July 2010, effective 14 September 2010.
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Neal, A.C. (2016). Implementing ILO Fundamental Labour Rights in China: A Sensitive Meeting of Form and Substance?. In: Liukkunen, U., Chen, Y. (eds) Fundamental Labour Rights in China - Legal Implementation and Cultural Logic. Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice, vol 49. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23156-3_2
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