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Experimentation and decentralization in China's labor relations

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  • Friedman, Eli
  • Kuruvilla, Sarosh

Abstract

In this introduction to the special issue ‘Changing work, labour and employment relations in China’, we argue that China is taking an experimental and decentralized approach to the development of new labor relations frameworks. Particular political constraints in China prevent interest aggregation among workers, as the central state sees this as posing a risk to social stability. Firms and local governments have been given a degree of space to experiment with different arrangements, as long as the categorical ban on independent unions is not violated. The consequence has been an increasingly differentiated labor relations landscape, with significant variation by region and sector. We note some countervailing tendencies towards re-centralization, but emphasize that this phenomenon remains largely confined to the municipal level. The five articles in this special issue address different aspects of both experimentation and decentralization in labor relations.

Suggested Citation

  • Friedman, Eli & Kuruvilla, Sarosh, 2015. "Experimentation and decentralization in China's labor relations," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 65140, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:65140
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/65140/
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    Cited by:

    1. Hao ZHANG & Eli FRIEDMAN, 2021. "Faltering standardization: Conflict and labour relations in China's taxi and sanitation industries," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 160(3), pages 363-385, September.
    2. Wei Wei, 2024. "Never cross the red line? Analysing employment relations practices and the behaviour of front‐line managers in Chinese McDonald's stores," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(2), pages 100-118, March.
    3. Wei Huang, 2022. "What sort of workplace democracy can democratic management achieve in China?," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(6), pages 578-601, November.
    4. Elaine Sio‐ieng Hui, 2022. "Bottom‐Up Unionization in China: A Power Resources Analysis," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 60(1), pages 99-123, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    China; collective bargaining; labor relations; strikes; unions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General

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