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Changing labour regulations and labour standards in China: Retrospect and challenges

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  • Chris King-Chi CHAN
  • Khalid NADVI

Abstract

China's global economic strength is underpinned by its manufacturing prowess, predicated on a disciplined, skilled but relatively low-paid workforce. Hence the State's recent regulatory initiatives to improve employment conditions in response to growing labour unrest. In their introductory article, the coordinators of this Special Issue of the International Labour Review contextualize the contributions that follow by reviewing the broader debates on labour regulation in global production – particularly on “soft” vs “hard” regulation – and the changes that have occurred in China's labour markets, labour regulations, labour standards and labour relations over the past decade. They conclude with suggestions for further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris King-Chi CHAN & Khalid NADVI, 2014. "Changing labour regulations and labour standards in China: Retrospect and challenges," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 153(4), pages 513-534, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intlab:v:153:y:2014:i:4:p:513-534
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xu Wang & Chris King-Chi Chan & Linchuan Yang, 2022. "Do workers benefit from economic upgrading in the Pearl River Delta, China?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Asadullah, M. Niaz & Xiao, Saizi, 2020. "The changing pattern of wage returns to education in post-reform China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 137-148.
    3. Keshab Das, 2017. "Labour market resilience in India: conceptual and policy issues," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 60(2), pages 155-174, June.
    4. M Niaz Asadullah & Saizi Xiao, 2019. "Labor Market Returns to Education and English Language Skills in the People's Republic of China: An Update," Asian Development Review, MIT Press, vol. 36(1), pages 80-111, March.
    5. Yu Huang & Naubahar Sharif, 2017. "From ‘Labour Dividend’ to ‘Robot Dividend’: Technological Change and Workers’ Power in South China," Agrarian South: Journal of Political Economy, Centre for Agrarian Research and Education for South, vol. 6(1), pages 53-78, April.
    6. Xu, Tao & Zhu, Weiwei, 2021. "Eudemonia and Freedom: A Bibliometric Research on Frontiers and Evolution of Labour and Employment in China," MPRA Paper 112908, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 30 Mar 2022.

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