The Chinese Trade Union Federation at the Crossroads - Relaxing Control over Labour or Risking Labour Instability

Abstract

A peaceful and compliant urban labour force is integral to the success of China's reform program; but even as worker's real wages rise and the Chinese economy starts to become less dependent on labour-intensive manufacturing, worker unrest remains a problem, and one that factory managers and owners as well as local officials often seem unable to cope with. The Third Plenum was a good opportunity for the central authorities to put in place new solutions. But Professor Anita Chan argues here that the Plenum's policy proposals in this field turned out to be inadequate.