Webcasts

On January 1, 2008 a new labor contract law came into effect in China - by mid-2010, most aspects of the law had begun to be fully enforced. The law requires employers to provide written employment contracts to their workers. The law also requires employment contracts to stipulate minimum wage and safety regulations. The regulations apply to both domestic and foreign firms operating in China. Two years after initial implementation, many employers remain unclear on the changes and how they will affect their operations in China.

Over the past several years, unionization has also increased dramatically in China and foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) are feeling the effects. Many foreign firms are being pressed by the Chinese government to open their doors to state-backed unions if they have not done so already. As Chinese firms and union officials have begun to take innovative approaches to handle worker unrest, foreign enterprises are now following suit. In China's increasingly volatile labor environment, it is crucial for foreign firms to be up to date on the latest developments so that they can best protect their interests in China.

To learn more about these topics, please join our China Labor Contract Law and Unionization Issues webcast on September 16, 2010. This 90 minute session will include a 60-minute presentation, followed by 30 minutes for Q&A.

The following topics are be covered in this webcast

• Introduction to China
• History of Labor Laws in China
  • Review of China's 1995 Labor Law
• The 2008 Labor Contract Law
  • Background
  • Development of the law
  • Chapter-by-Chapter Summary of the New Law
  • Practical Implications and Enforcement
  • Case Study: 2010 Honda Strikes
• Important Changes in the 2008 Labor Contract Law
  • Written contracts
  • Dismissal and termination of contracts
  • Severance payments
  • Collective bargaining and labor union involvement
  • Rules regarding part-time employees
  • Non-compete clauses
• The Impact of Unions pre-2009
  • What is the ACFTU?
  • History of the ACFTU
  • Ties between ACFTU and Government/Party
  • Current Reach of the ACFTU
  • Trade Union Law (2001)
  • Government Impact on Unionization
  • Media Impact on Unionization
  • Union involvement in Legal Disputes
• Emergence of Union Mediation in Labor Disputes
  • History of Labor Disputes in China
  • Will my workers strike?
  • How to prevent strikes
  • How to deal with strikes if they occur
  • What is union mediation?