Labour Law of the People's Republic of China

It is sometimes confused with the Labour Contract Law of the People's Republic of China because of their similar names and focuses, as well as imprecise media reports. As the Labour Contract Law is more recent, having gone into effect January 1, 2008, the Labour Law is also sometimes called the "old labour law", though this is incorrect as both are still in effect simultaneously.

Contents of the law

The law has 107 articles in 13 chapters. The titles of all the chapters are listed below.

1. General Provisions
2. Promotion of Employment
3. Labour Contracts and Collective Contracts
4. Working Hours, Rests, and Leaves
5. Wages
6. Labour Safety and Sanitation
7. Special Protection for Female Staff and Workers and Juvenile Workers
8. Professional Training
9. Social Insurance and Welfare Treatment
10. Labour Disputes
11. Supervision and Inspection
12. Legal Responsibilities
13. Supplementary Provisions

The purpose of the law, stated by Article 1 in the first chapter, is to "protect the legitimate rights and interests of labourers, readjust labour relationship, establish and safeguard the labour system suiting the socialist market economy, and promote economic development and social progress".

There are 20 articles concerning labour contracts and collective contracts in the third chapter. In 2008, the 98-article-long Labour Contract Law came into effect to further regulate related behaviours.

The law was amended with minor correction in 2009.