A senior Chinese official on Tuesday urged the rapid
establishment of a sophisticated labor contract system across
China.
Wang Zhaoguo, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress (NPC), said the contract system would establish
an important legal framework in labor relations, and should be
fully set up across the country.
Taking part in a teleconference on labor contract system reform
held on Tuesday, Wang, also president of All-China Federation of
Trade Unions, said the contract system should be set up and efforts
made to create fair, balanced, and harmonious labor relations.
China plans to establish an all-round labor contract system by
2008, by which time most firms in China should have signed labor
contracts with their employees. According to the plans, contract
administration will be mature by then.
In the past, most Chinese workers enjoyed the "cradle to grave"
welfare system. But over the past dozen years, as China has shifted
to a market economy, an increasing number of workers have signed
labor contracts covering their salaries and welfare.
The current labor contract system was initiated by the labor law
enacted 12 years ago. The top legislature is currently examining
the country's labor contract law.
A draft of the labor contract law was submitted to the
legislature for review last December.
(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2006)