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The Children of Migrant Workers in China

The children of migrant workers in China’s cities grow up facing daily exploitation, discrimination and social exclusion. In the second part of CLB’s three-part study on migrant workers’ children, we examine the deleterious impact of this environment on children’s education and physical and psychological health and its profound consequences for the future workforce of China. Photograph of migrant children's school by Ashengrove.

Responding to the global economic crisis: Government and unions put job protection first

China has pushed through a series of emergency measures to protect jobs and stabilize the economy in the wake of factory closures and mass layoffs. The ACFTU is urging employers and employees to work together. Photograph by Bert van Dijk

Migrant workers cheated out of 230,000 yuan – harassed and beaten by thugs

Migrant workers in a food processing plant in Shandong worked 15-hour days in hazardous conditions, abused and exploited by management. During the final wage settlement, the boss hired local gangsters to intimidate and beat up the workers, even threatening to kill anyone who refused to accept the deal.

No Way Out: A report on the human cost of China’s economic miracle

A new report by CLB and Canada’s Rights and Democracy reveals how the lives of millions of workers were thrown into turmoil during the wholesale privatization of China’s state-owned enterprises in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Photo of abandoned SOE in Liaoning by Sonya@flickr.com

CLB's Labour Rights Litigation Programme

Litigation is one of the few avenues open to ordinary Chinese workers seeking redress for violations of their labour rights. CLB is committed to helping workers bring law suits against employers and government agencies across the entire spectrum of labour issues from non-payment of wages and benefits to discrimination and workplace injuries.

Dongguan court’s dubious ruling in Nokia HBV discrimination case

A Dongguan court on 22 October 2008 ruled against a plaintiff who was seeking 500,000 yuan in psychological damages after being refused employment at Nokia (China) because of his Hepatitis B (HBV) status. However, key evidence was not heard by the court. Photo by Pierrick Blons

Strikes trigger search for a long-term solution to China’s taxi industry woes

A significant feature of this month’s taxi strikes has been the swift and usually conciliatory response of the local government. However, short-term government intervention cannot provide a lasting solution to the problems of excessive fees and unlicensed cabs. Photo of Chongqing taxi by DCF pics @ flickr.com