Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 This Law is enacted in order to promote employment, coordination between economic development and employment increase, and harmony and stability of society.

Article 2 The State lays great stress on employment increase in economic and social development, implements a proactive employment policy, and upholds the guideline under which workers keep the initiative in their own hands when choosing jobs, employment is regulated by the market, and the government promotes employment, in order to increase employment through multiple channels.

Article 3 The workers enjoy the right to employment on an equal footing and to choice of jobs on their own initiative in accordance with law.

In seeking employment, the workers shall not be subject to discrimination because of their ethnic backgrounds, races, gender, religious beliefs, etc.

Article 4 People’s governments at or above the county level shall make employment increase one of their important goals in their endeavors for economic and social development, incorporate it in their plans for national economic and social development, and formulate medium- and long-term plans and annual work plans for promotion of employment.

Article 5 People’s governments at or above the county level shall create conditions for employment and increase employment by taking such measures as developing the economy, adjusting the industrial structure, regulating the market of human resources, improving employment services, strengthening vocational education and training, providing employment aid, etc.

Article 6 The State Council shall establish a national mechanism for coordinating the efforts made to promote employment, whereby to study the major issues arising in this field of endeavor and coordinate and push forward such efforts nationwide. Specifically, the administrative department of labor of the State Council shall be in charge of the promotion of employment nationwide.

People’s governments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall, in light of the need for promotion of employment, establish mechanisms for coordinating the efforts made to promote employment, whereby to coordinate such efforts and solve the major issues arising in this field of endeavor in their administrative areas respectively.

The relevant departments of the people’s governments at or above the county level shall, in compliance with the division of duties, make joint efforts to do a good job in promoting employment.

Article 7 The State advocates that the workers develop correct ideas about how to choose jobs and enhance their employability and the capability to start an undertaking, and encourages them to start an undertaking on their own initiative or to seek jobs by themselves.

People’s governments at all levels and the relevant departments shall simplify procedures and increase efficiency to provide conveniences for the workers to start undertakings on their own initiative and seek jobs by themselves.

Article 8 The employing units shall, in according with law, have the right to employ people independently.

The employing units shall guarantee the lawful rights and interests of the workers in accordance with the provisions of this Law, other laws and regulations.

Article 9 Trade unions, Communist youth leagues, women’s federations, disabled persons’ federations and other public organizations shall assist the people’s governments in carrying out the promotion of employment and, in accordance with law, protect the workers’ right to work.

Article 10 People’s governments at all levels and the relevant departments shall commend and reward the units and individuals that have achieved outstanding successes in the effort to promote employment.