Working Conditions in China: Just and Favorable?

Transcript (PDF) (Text)

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China held another in its series of staff-led Issues Roundtables, entitled "Working Conditions in China: Just and Favorable?" on Thursday, November 3, from 2:30 – 4:00 PM in Room 480 of the Ford House Office Building. The Ford House Office Building is located at 441 2nd Street, S.W., between D Street and Virginia Avenue, S.W.

This Roundtable examined current working conditions for workers in China and the role that internationally accepted standards and their implementation play in fostering the changes that are taking place in the Chinese workplace. The panelists reviewed Chinese government efforts to address violations of wage and workplace safety laws and the effects that a reported labor shortage are having on the bargaining power of workers, especially in southern China.

Panelists also discussed the standards used to calculate a sustainable living wage in the Chinese context, and how this standard can be met. In addition, the panelists commented on the problems that arise when foreign invested firms operating in China must deal with inconsistent and often conflicting laws, regulations, and ad hoc decisions by authorities in the central government, and provincial and city governments.