China's top legislature is considering the public's suggestions to better
protect the rights of laborers and establish a stable and harmonious
relationship between the employers and employees.
The draft law on labor
contract was on Sunday submitted to a legislative session of the National
People's Congress (NPC) for the second reading.
NPC received 191,849
public suggestions during the month after the draft law was published for public
consultation on March 20.
Based on public opinions, the amended draft law
has worked out specific stipulations on the endorsement, implementation and
termination of labor contracts, with an aim to establish a stable labor
relationship.
In regard to the problem that the rights of laborers on
probation are often infringed upon, the new draft law stipulates that the salary
of the probationer should not be less than 80 percent of the lowest salary on
the same post.
It also requires that the probation period should not
exceed one month if the validity period of the labor contract is less than one
year, and not surpass six months if the labor contract period is over three
years.
Employees' rights are stressed in the draft law which stipulates
that when the employers make important decisions on issues such as salary,
working hours, vacation, labor safety and health, insurance, training, labor
quotas and disciplines, they should put their plans on the conference attended
by all workers or their representatives for discussion.
The draft law
also focuses on cracking down on illegally docking or delaying employee's
pay.
China's current labor contract system was set in a labor law enacted
12 years ago. The draft, if it is approved, will be the country's first law
governing contracts.
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