Must Read China Post. It's So Hard To Be A Saint In The City.
Posted by Dan on September 7, 2008 at 05:55 PM
You have to check out Danwei's post, entitled, "It's not easy for a migrant worker in the legislature." I don't even want to tell you what it is about, because I see it being about so many things, some of which go well beyond China.
You just will have to trust me that this is a must read.
What do you think?
http://www.chinalawblog.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-t.cgi/2817
Must Read China Post. It's So Hard To Be A Saint In The City.:
Comments
Excellent article. It doesn't surprise me to learn that contracts and wages make up the bulk of problems, nor does it surprise me to learn that many migrant labourers are ignorant of the laws designed to regulate labour disputes.
Hu Xiaoyan's proposal, "that the Contract Law be put into the middle school curriculum" is a great idea that I hope the state will eventually endorse. As Hu syas, "Even if it's just one class period a week, they'll learn about the law and protecting their rights, and there wouldn't be these awkward situations."
Posted by: Mark Anthony Jones | September 7, 2008 9:53 PM
I'm not sure knowing what the law states will necessarily mean anything towards it being implemented.
Maybe saying such is unnecessarily cynical on my part.
If migrant workers could have their problems heard - not even properly addressed, but only heard - in a court of law, wouldn't that be a can of worms that many wouldn't want to see opened?
Posted by: James G | September 8, 2008 6:41 AM
MAJ: many migrant labourers are ignorant of the laws designed to regulate labour disputes.
Often the law really doesn't help them very much. For example, the contract law is useless if you don't have a contract, and migrant workers in many fields very rarely work with contracts.
What typically happens in construction is that the construction company will hire a labor agent who then subcontracts the job to workers. The workers get paid a lump sum at the end of the employment period when the labor agent gets paid. Typically none of this is written down.
JG: I'm not sure knowing what the law states will necessarily mean anything towards it being implemented.
Actually the Chinese government is pretty good about implementing the laws that it writes, you just need to understand what was written.
Posted by: Twofish | September 8, 2008 1:11 PM
Today, 10 sept., is a special day, Teacher's Festival in China. People often express their thanks to their teachers for their teachings, guidelines, advices in the day. Of course, that could be done in every day.
Thank you, Dan Harris and Steve Dickinson.
Thanks for you sharing your thoughts and opinions with us.
Posted by: Thomas Hu | September 9, 2008 9:40 PM
Thomas Hu,
Thanks. That means a lot to me.
Posted by: Dan | September 10, 2008 1:38 AM