The Changing Dynamics of Employment Relations in China: An Evaluation of the Rising Level of Labour Disputes

Abstract

The landscape of industrial relations in China has experienced significant change over the last two decades, mainly due to the diversification of ownership forms that has given rise to a proliferation of categories of workers with different needs and expectations that are neither represented nor often officially recognized. However, there have been insufficient studies that analyse the extent, scope and nature of the rising level of labour disputes in China and whether these disputes demonstrate characteristics distinct to ownership forms, size of undertaking or sectors of the economy. This article analyses the extent of and major reasons for the rising level of labour disputes in China and questions if the true level of labour disputes has been captured by official statistics.