China's Labour Law, Compliance and Flaws in Implementing Institutions

This article examines some of the factors contributing to the widespread compliance failures experienced by Chinese labour law. It focuses on the nature of the legal rules and the structure of state and quasi-state institutions charged with implementing the law. While the basic legal framework regulating labour in China appears designed to prevent many abuses, the lack of settled detail inhibits effective enforcement. The labour inspectorate, formal dispute resolution processes and the official trade union organization each suffer from weaknesses reducing their capacity to elicit compliance with the law. Some improvements to the law and the institutions are already being implemented. The article suggests further areas of reform that may increase compliance, within the constraints of China's current political realities.