Meet the State Security: Labour Activists and their Controllers

Ivan Franceschini

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

    Abstract

    The year 2016 was very difficult for labour rights in China. In order to support investments during a serious economic slowdown, local authorities in several areas froze minimum wages and reduced the percentages of social security contributions shouldered by companies. At the same time, officials in the highest echelons of the Party-state repeatedly criticised the existing labour legislation, in particular the 2008 Labour Contract Law 劳动合同法, for harming the flexibility of the labour market and constraining productivity. All of this has translated into increased control over those Chinese labour activists who try to promote the cause of workers� rights, as well as the foreign donors who support their activities. This has been achieved through several state bodies, including the State Security guobao 国保 � a secretive branch of the Public Security apparatus charged with protecting the country from domestic political threats.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationChina Story Yearbook 2016: Control
    Editors Jane Golley, Linda Jaivin, and Luigi Tomba
    Place of PublicationCanberra
    PublisherANU Press
    Pages65-72pp
    EditionFirst
    ISBN (Print)9781760461195
    Publication statusPublished - 2017

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Meet the State Security: Labour Activists and their Controllers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this