Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback Edited Legal Collections Data

Elfstrom, Manfred --- "Labor rights in China" [2019] ELECD 1302; in Biddulph, Sarah; Rosenzweig, Joshua (eds), "Handbook on Human Rights in China" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019) 161

Book Title: Handbook on Human Rights in China

Editor(s): Biddulph, Sarah; Rosenzweig, Joshua

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Section: Chapter 9

Section Title: Labor rights in China

Author(s): Elfstrom, Manfred

Number of pages: 19

Abstract/Description:

Labor activism has played a critical role in the strengthening of basic human rights protections. This chapter provides an overview of China’s changing legal and institutional environment for workers, from the pre-revolutionary era through to today. In particular, this chapter examines recent alterations to the country’s labor laws and reforms to the Communist Party-controlled All China Federation of Trade Unions. Furthermore, the chapter explores shifts in Chinese worker activism along three dimensions: changing demands, changing tactics, and changing organizations. The chapter concludes by delving into questions raised by these dynamics, including the merits of rights- versus interest-based activism and institutional versus extra-institutional approaches to justice.