China Employment Forum

The China Employment Forum was organized in April 2004 jointly by the Ministry of Labour and Social and Security (MOLSS) of China and the ILO. More than 500 high-ranking officials and specialists from Chinese government agencies, employers and workers organizations, research institutions and academia attended it. Also participating were 27 ministers and vice-ministers of labour from around the world, as well as employment specialists from the ILO and other international agencies.

The major objective was to provide a venue where ideas, knowledge and experience (including examples of good employment practices from other countries) could be shared and build upon to develop the main strategic elements and practical proposals for an employment agenda for decent work in China.

In the opening session, Vice-Premier Huang Ju stressed the need to promote economic development and job creation through encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and flexible forms of employment. The ILO Director-General pointed out that, in the face of a formidable employment challenge, China required an accelerated increase in decent jobs through productivity growth and development of an efficient and equitable labour market. This would mean strengthening the positive relationship between core labour standards and sustainable economic progress and ensuring that labour conflicts are addressed through social dialogue and full participation of the social partners. The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Mr. Zheng Silin, pointed out that macroeconomics policies that promote employment opportunities were necessary to support economic reforms. He said that there had been some improvements in the situation of rural workers including improved opportunities for rural-urban migration. Progress had also been made in protecting women's rights to employment and providing support to persons with disabilities.

Based on discussions in the plenary and parallel sessions, the Forum adopted a "Common Understanding" that outlined the pressing need to maintain economic growth the improve labour markets in order to expand employment opportunities and enhance the quality of employment. It noted that respect for fundamental principles and rights at work was a foundation for economic development and social progress.

The Common Understanding called on international organizations to actively support the placing of employment at the centre of their strategies and policies for reducing poverty. It specifically called for greater cooperation between China and the ILO around the Decent Work Agenda on a range of labour market and workplace issues.

The ILO has drawn up proposals for further action with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to follow up on the Common Understanding, which will be implemented jointly by headquarters' departments, the Subregional Office in Bangkok and the ILO Office in Beijing. This will include the drawing up of a decent work national plan of action in China and alternative approaches to technical cooperation including initiating activities at the provincial level and then "scaling up" successes to the national level.

China Employment Forum: Summary Proceedings (pdf 292 KB) • Chinese (pdf 880 KB)