Economic Growth:The Fundamental Path to the Realization of Social Security Rights for Migrant Workers

The International Labour Organization seems to only see the aspect of social security promoting economic growth,while neglecting the aspect of economic growth supporting social security.From the standpoint of materialism and the practice of social security,the realization of social security rights for migrant workers fundamentally depends on economic growth.The Belt and Road Initiative has provided a Chinese solution for creating a strong material and technological foundation to meet the social security needs of all people,including migrant workers.

Chinese Trade Unions Strive to Protect Workers' Rights and Interests in Dealing with the Global Financial Crisis

Protecting the rights and interests of workers and staff members constitutes an important aspect of China＇s human rights protection. At the time when the country is dealing with impacts of the global financial crisis, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions has been working fruitfully and effectively to accelerate economic and social development and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of workers, therefore making contributions to the protection of the rights and interests of Chinese workers. Now I would like to make a brief introduction on this subject.

Predicaments and Countermeasures of the Protection of Migrant Workers' Human Rights——From the Perspective of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

International migration mainly happens between the North and the South Mig rant workers have made important contributions to the inclusive growth and sustainable development of world economy, but their human rights are often violated In recent years, frequent extreme terrorists attacks and large-scale refugee influxes have triggered anti-for eign sentiment and policies in developed countries, which expose migrant workers to an unprecedented human rights crisis The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families is an important convention adopted by the United Nations that specially protects human rights of migrant workers However, as the convention has not been ratified by major developed countries where most migrant workers seek employment, the protection regime has an empty shell Developing countries where most migrant workers originate from should strengthen cooperation among themselves and urge developed countries to fulfill the duty of human rights protection by normalizing the status of migrant workers and that of members of their families in employment countries and ratifying the convention as soon as possible.

Zhejiang Keen to Protect Migrant Workers' Rights and Interests

EDITOR＇S NOTE： FoUowing are some of the stories about how migrant workers＇ rights and interests are protected in Zhejiang, one of the best developed province on the Chinese mainland. Through interviews with more than 100 migrant workers in the province, we found that migrant workers there enjoy equal treatment as their counterparts registered as urban residents, and that their rights and interests are effectively protected.

The Protection of the “Third Kind of Workers” in Gig Economy from the Perspective of Social Rights

Due to the new flexible employment mode of the gig economy,many workers in the gig economy cannot be classified according to the traditional dualistic division of labor relations and non-labor relations,and their rights are basically under no protection.As human beings making a living through their labor,the workers in the gig economy should be entitled to basic human rights,among which the most directly related is social rights.The concept and theoretical framework of"independent workers"put forward by American scholars is more conducive to the protection of their social rights.This theory not only has the legal basis of international law,but also conforms to the legislative purpose of striking a balance between the protection of workers and the sustainable development of the gig economy.It is also practical.Based on this theory,China’s national conditions,and the core conventions of the International Labour Organization,we propose a new way to protect"the third kind of workers"in the gig economy.

Revision of Trade Union Law: For Better Protection of Workers' Rights and Interests

On October 27, 2001, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress adopted a decision on revision of the People's Republic of China Trade Union Law. Guan Huai, legal advisor to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, had the following to say in an interview with the Human Rights:

The Historic Achievements of the Communist Party of China in Respecting and Protecting Human Rights in the New Era

In the new era,the Communist Party of China(CPC)has made historic achievements in respecting and protecting human rights.Building upon the principle of the“two integrations”(integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and fine traditional culture),it has nurtured new theories on respecting and protecting human rights in the new era,which can address the fundamental questions of whom and what the human rights protection efforts in the new era are for.Guided by the principle of“taking our own path,”it has charted a distinct course for the development of human rights,diverging from the Western approach.The CPC has maintained the unity between Party leadership and the respect for and protection of human rights,promoting progress in human rights through the pursuit of“high-quality development,”and ensuring various fundamental rights of the people through the rule of law.Building upon the past experience,the CPC has established the“source”of the institutional framework for respecting and protecting human rights in the new era,crafted the“body”of this institutional framework,and introduced its practical“application.”In promoting the comprehensive advancement of human rights protection,the CPC has facilitated the connotative development of human rights protection in China,empowering China in international human rights discourse,and contributing Chinese strength and wisdom to global human rights governance.

Systematic and Theoretical Unfolding of Research on Xi Jinping’s Discourses on Respecting and Protecting Human Rights

Xi Jinping’s discourses on respecting and protect-ing human rights stand as a shining example of the sinicization and modernization of Marxist human rights theory,embodying profound theoretical,political,practical,and cultural logic.Existing research has conducted comprehensive and systematic theoretical analysis and academic extractions on the following contents:the core essence in-herent in these important discourses,including the“theory of human rights concepts,”the“theory of human rights paths,”the“theory of human rights practices,”the“theory of human rights protection,”and the“theory of human rights governance,”along with their profound theoretical significance,practical significance,and global signifi-cance.In the future,researchers should emphasize efforts on studying the original texts and understanding the original principles.While focusing on the precision of concepts,the scientific nature of the prop-ositions,the maturity of theoretical systems,and the rigor of internal logic related to Xi Jinping’s discourses on respecting and protecting human rights,researchers should also pay attention to constructing a discourse system on human rights from the dimensions of discourse power,discourse cluster,and discourse field.Researchers should be adept at drawing innovative insights into human rights theory from China’s vibrant human rights practices and the vast masses of people.This approach will facilitate the systematic unfolding,academic trans-formation,and innovative development of Xi Jinping’s discourses on respecting and protecting human rights.

Migrant Workers' Lack of Cultural Rights and Interests and Government Safeguard Measures

This paper analyses the status quo of migrant workers' lack of cultural rights and interests as follows:the holistic cultural life of migrant workers is scant and monotonous;the cultural facilities provided by the majority of enterprises are critically short;the cultural life of migrant workers has the characteristic of closeness to some extent;the holistic cultural consuming capacity of migrant workers is very low,and they are not satisfied with their own cultural life.This paper puts forward the measures that the government should adopt to make up for the lack of migrant workers' cultural rights and interests as follows:first,it should eliminate discrimination in terms of system,and incorporate migrant workers' cultural rights and interests into the building scope of urban public culture;second,it should establish a variety of free public culture facilities,to adapt to the needs of migrant workers;third,it should formulate various kinds of laws and regulations,to effectively safeguard migrant workers' cultural rights and interests.

On Protection of Worker Rights by Union Organizations through Handling of Letters & Visits

Chinese trade unions have always been keen on devel- oping and protecting worker rights. Today, they have the task of helping build up harmonious labor relations. By working to properly handle letters and visits, union orga- nizations aim at resolving problems workers are most concerned with, problems that are most practical and affect the immediate interests of work- ers. The job is of great significance to the country＇s endeavor to ensure decent labor and social stability.

Experts on Protection of Workers' Right to Remuneration in Accordance With Labor Law

Adozen experts of law gathered on April 1, 2003 to share their views on protection of the workers’ right to remuneration for their work in accordance with the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China. That took place at a seminar jointly sponsored by the Human Rights and the Beijing-based Democracy and Law magazines and the Branch of Labor and Social Security Laws of the Beijing Society of Law. Participants were from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions,

Symposium Tackles Challenges to Women Workers'Rights

A symposium on how to tackle the challenges to women workers＇ rights was held in Beijing on March 8, the International Women＇s Day.

Safeguarding Farmer Workers' Rights and Interests——An interview with Ye Jingyi, professor of Beijing University Law School

Farmer workers are a new powerful workforce that has sprung up amid China＇s reform and door opening and in the process of the country＇s industrialization and urbanization. They have made great contributions to urban prosperity, rural development and their country＇s modernization. At present, however, farmer workers face numerous difficulties and problems in income, work safety, social security, vocational training, the schooling of their children and living conditions. To safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of farmer workers, the State Council in March 2006 issued Ideas of the State Council on Solving Farmer Workers-related Problems. In the document, the State Council promises to strengthen and improve leadership over work regarding farmer workers and prioritize the solving of farmer workers-related problems.

Blue Paper on the Role of Chinese Trade Unions in Safeguarding the Legitimate Rights and Interests of Workers 2004 (Excerpt)

During the course of 2004, the Chinese trade unions earnestly implemented their strategy of ＂Organizing for Better Protection,＂ steppedup efforts to regulate industrial relations, effectively defended the legitimate rights and interests of workers.

Blue Paper on the Role of Chinese Trade Unions in Safeguarding the Legitimate Rights and Interests of Workers (2005)(Excerpt)

EDITOR＇S NOTE： All China Federation of Trade Unions （ACFTU） has recently published Blue Paper on the Role of Chinese Trade Unions in Safeguarding the Legitimate Rights and Interests of Workers （2005）, which consist of 11 parts： preserve the correct orientation of Chinese trade unions as a protector of workers＇ legitimate rights and interests; protect workers＇ right to join and form trade union; organize and represent workers to exercise the right to equal consultation; protect workers＇ labor and economic rights; guarantee workers＇ democratic and political rights; fulfill workers＇ spiritual and cultural needs; actively participate in adjusting labor relations and handling labor disputes; protect migrant workers＇ legitimate rights and interests; promote gender equality and protect women workers＇ special rights and interests; take innovations in the way trade unions protect workers; and mobilize and organize workers to play the role of the working class as the main force in economic construction, and the following is an abstracted edition of it.

Rural Migrant Workers' Welfare and Labor Protection in China under the Labor Contract Law

This paper employs difference-in-differences(DID) approach to evaluate the effects of China's Labor Contract Law's implementation on rural migrant workers' welfare.Our findings suggest that the Labor Contract Law has reduced rural migrant workers' working hours by 23%, and increased their social insurance coverage by 10% to 26%. This conclusion holds true after removal of sample selection bias and policy expectation factor.Further analysis reveals that Labor Contract Law's welfare improvement effect was more significant for migrant workers in regions where workers had poor bargaining power. Other economic factors during the same period of time did not affect the law's labor protection effect. Our findings give a clear answer to controversies over whether the Labor Contract Law can improve labor rights for underprivileged groups, and are of reference value for developing labor protection systems.

Occupational health protection for health workers during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic:6P-approach in China

Health workers(HW)are on the frontline fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic,they are exposed to multiple occupational hazards.This article analyzed the comprehensive measures of protecting HWs during the COVID-19 response in China.Occupational health protection of HWs was one of the key strategies of the public health measures adopted against the COVID-19 outbreak from the earliest stage in China.This prioritization of HWs health protection was based on the technical and policy guidance of WHO and International Labor Organization as well as the experiences from previous outbreaks in China.The comprehensive measures in China can be summarized as‘6P-approach’:public health emergency response,prompt learning from lessons,proactive measures of occupational health,precaution strategies against occupational hazards,personal protective equipment and medical devices supply,and professional networking.Through this 6P-approach,China was able to minimize the incidence of COVID-19 infection among HWs,while successfully containing the outbreak dxuing the first quarter of 2020.Although the COVID-19 vaccines have been rolled out,however,the COVID-19 pandemic is still under rapidly evolving situation.Experiences from China may provide other countries with an example of prioritizing and incorporating occupational health protection of HWs in their public health measures responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Revisiting the Spirit of the UDHR and Discussing Human Rights Development——Summary of Views from the Seminar Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

On December 4,2023,the China Society for Human Rights Studies hosted a seminar in Beijing commemorating the 75^(th) Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Participants discussed topics such as the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,China’s theories and practices in respecting and safeguarding human rights,the three global initiatives and global human rights governance,human rights protection in the digital age,and telling Chinese stories of human rights in the new era.The discussions led to a broad consensus and achieved positive results.