Our 10 most recent articles.
Platform labour regulations and unionising the gig economy
At China Labour Bulletin, we are saying goodbye to our retiring Communications Director, Geoffrey Crothall. CLB Executive Director Han Dongfang thanks Geoffrey for his long service to the organization: "During the past decade and a half, under Geoff’s guidance, the CLB team has successfully built a solid platform providing the most reliable information on the workers' movement and labour issues in China. I am very thankful for Geoff’s invaluable contributions."
07 October 2021
Tutors struggle for compensation after mass layoffs
Teachers across China face wages in arrears after the effects of new rules regulating tutoring companies
07 September 2021
Henan overtakes Guangdong in number of worker protests
The central province of Henan has been a key locus of worker activism and collective protests in China over the last year, with construction and transport workers taking the lead.
24 August 2021
China’s social security system
Every employee in China is supposed to have a pension, medical and unemployment insurance, and a range of other welfare benefits. In reality, the system has largely failed to provide workers, and rural migrant workers in particular, with the social security they need and are legally entitled to.
18 August 2021
Chongqing government amends discriminatory policy after public outcry
The Chongqing government has quietly revoked a discriminatory hiring requirement for teachers following a public outcry. However, the local trade union, whose responsibility it is to protect teachers’ rights, was nowhere to be seen.
16 July 2021
Migrant workers and their children
There are an estimated 286 million rural migrant workers in China, comprising more than one-third of the entire working population. They have been the engine of China’s spectacular economic growth over the last three decades but remain marginalized, and their children have limited access to education and healthcare.
04 May 2021
Private education companies are a new focus of worker protests in China
Staff and customers of one of China’s best known education companies, YouWin Education, staged a mass protest at the company headquarters in Beijing on 19 October.
09 November 2020
Rural teachers demand payment of millions of yuan in wage arrears
After five years of wage delays and non-payment of bonuses and pension contributions, the teachers of Dafang country in Guizhou finally had enough. They took their complaints public and petitioned the central government for help. In early September, the State Council intervened and ordered the local government to pay the teachers the 470 million yuan they were owed.
05 October 2020
Employment and Wages
Job creation and higher living standards have long been key objectives for the Chinese government. However, millions of workers in traditional industries are being laid off and many of the new jobs being created are insecure and poorly paid.
15 September 2020
The changing face of worker protest in northeast China
Protests move from state-owned enterprises to the private sector but familiar government and trade union failings remain.
17 August 2020