The government has issued rules to protect the rights and
interests of laborers that go into effect from December 1 this
year.
According to the new regulations, labor and social security
departments have the authority to punish and order employers to
correct infringements.
They forbid assigning women hazardous posts, such as working in
mineshafts, working in high places during menstruation and
assigning nightshifts to women who are more than seven months
pregnant.
The rules will make employers compensate workers for defaulting
on wage payments, in addition to paying the wages in full.
They also forbid employers to obstruct the establishment and
normal operation of trade unions.
Reporting violations to departments of labor and social security
is also being encouraged with the establishment of rewards for
informants in major cases.
(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2004)