China has seen a rising number of "mass incidents" triggered by labor disputes in the past 12 years, according to a senior official with the national legislature.

Yang Jingyu, chairman of the Law Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), did not give any figures or examples when addressing an audio conference on Monday; however, he said the number of labor disputes, mainly concerning unpaid wages, increased 13.5 times between 1995 and 2006.

"With accelerating industrialization and urbanization in China, infringements on employees' rights are occurring more frequently, especially in certain regions and industries," Yang said, pointing the figure at private businesses, restructured state-owned enterprises, and construction companies.

"They have seriously undermined a harmonious and stable relationship between employers and employees," he added.

According to Yang, no more than 20 percent of the small and medium sized companies sign labor contracts with employees in a bid to cut costs or evade the payment of social insurance premiums.

More than 60 percent of employers in China only sign short-term contracts that last no more than one year, after which time they may simply dismiss employees upon completion of probation, he explained.

"These problems have made it very difficult for the employees to protect their lawful rights," Yang said. In addition, some local governments have chosen to sacrifice the interests of employees in pursuit of economic gain.

China aims to put 90 percent of its workforce under the protection of formal labor contracts by the end of 2007, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The nation would improve management of labor contracts and promote legislation and implementation of collective labor contracts to fully protect workers' rights.

China's top legislature adopted the labor contract law last month, which will regulate employers' use of laborers and help employees protect their legal rights.

According to the law, which will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2008, officials will face administrative penalties or criminal prosecution for abusing authority or neglecting responsibilities, leading to serious harm to the interests of workers.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2007)