Premium
The transition from individual to collective labour relations in C hina
Author(s) -
Kai Chang,
Brown William
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
industrial relations journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.525
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 1468-2338
pISSN - 0019-8692
DOI - 10.1111/irj.12013
Subject(s) - labour law , industrial relations , labor relations , intervention (counseling) , economics , transition (genetics) , labour economics , management , psychology , biochemistry , chemistry , psychiatry , gene
The article discusses the current transformation of C hinese labour relations. The L abour C ontract L aw implemented in 2008 provided the legal framework for C hina's adjustment to individual labour relations; it also hastened the evolution of collective labour relations. The article discusses how two different aspects of the C hinese labour movement—top‐down and bottom‐up—have been interacting. Implications are drawn from the experience of the strike wave of the summer of 2010. It is argued that further legal intervention could facilitate the development of C hina's labour policy, but that the reform of collective labour law will require the strengthening of the collective rights of workers and the nurturing of institutions which can focus collective consciousness and organisation.