Passing a new labor law is one of the measures China is taking to ensure that social tensions are properly addressed and that the benefits of the country’s unprecedented economic growth are more evenly spread. Monday’s WSJ article takes a closer look at the status of China’s new labor law, expected to pass later this year.
While there has been some debate on the labor law and its contents recently, with a wide range of opinions on what should and what should not go into the final draft, the most interesting part of the process, perhaps, is the fact that the Chinese government has solicited public feedback on the law, receiving nearly 200,000 (!!!) comments. And, as the contents of the different drafts have actually changed, it seems that the government is not only soliciting feedback – it is actually listening to recommendations.
…[T]he process shows how China’s government is increasingly seeking to involve interest groups and the public at large in the formation of laws. The cautious steps toward greater transparency reflect both the state’s desire to retain popular support of its rule and its need to tap a wider base of expertise to ensure laws are suited to the ever-more-complex economy and society. The making of laws in China is still largely driven by the political elite. However, observers say the government has appeared genuinely responsive to concerns raised by the proposed labor law.
Getting the public to participate in policymaking is one way to address citizen concerns. While soliciting feedback on the labor law and subsequently re-drafting it remains a rather isolated incident, it warrants to see whether China will continue to integrate public views in the policymaking process. The incentive? In addition to more efficient regulation, it can be a way to address public frustration in areas like property rights reform, which spark heated debates and tens of thousands of protests.
Published Date: May 09, 2007