China's Supreme People's Court Champions Fair Labor Practices and Protects Workers' Rights

China's Courts Emphasize Fair Labor Practices and Protecting Workers' Rights

The Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China has highlighted the importance of addressing labor disputes and contract cases fairly. This includes tackling gender and regional discrimination in hiring practices and promoting equal opportunities for college graduates.

He Xiaorong, vice president of the SPC, emphasized these points during a press conference focused on improving wage arrears governance and protecting labor rights. He revealed that courts across China handled nearly 600,000 first-instance labor dispute cases and over 660,000 first-instance labor contract disputes between January and November 2023.

He stressed that handling these cases effectively is crucial for protecting employees' rights, safeguarding employers' interests, and promoting harmonious labor relations. He cited examples of courts effectively adjudicating cases involving equal employment rights, rectifying discriminatory hiring practices, and removing barriers to equal opportunities for college graduates.

Other measures include ensuring equal employment and pay for urban and rural workers, prioritizing enforcement of wage arrears cases involving migrant workers, and providing legal support for the integration of rural migrant workers into urban life.

Courts nationwide also handled approximately 1,000 criminal cases of refusal to pay labor remuneration and over 82,000 civil cases related to labor remuneration disputes between January and November 2023. By mid-December, courts had concluded around 69,000 cases involving migrant workers, recovering 1.72 billion yuan in compensation.

The SPC also effectively implemented the judicial interpretation for criminal cases of refusal to pay labor remuneration, using penalties to punish malicious wage arrears and deter such actions.

Additionally, China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security launched a monthly employment assistance campaign to help workers facing difficulties, members of zero-employment households, and registered unemployed individuals find new jobs and start businesses.