It was reported that some 7,000 employees of Huawei Technologies
Co were required to resign from and then re-apply for their jobs.
This has stirred some controversy in recent weeks.
That the move came just two months before the amended Labor Law
takes effect in January raises suspicion that the goal was to evade
the extra economic burden the company would have had to shoulder by
making permanent employees of those who have been in its employ for
a decade or more, as the new law will require.
The Shenzhen-based company said such suspicions were groundless,
describing the move as a reform of its management of human
resources.
The move does not necessarily constitute a legal offense. And
the firm paid compensation to the employees who resigned as
required by the Labor Law.
What is worrisome is the possibility that other firms could
follow suit in order to shirk the responsibility they are obliged
to shoulder for the good of their employees and society.
The amended Labor Law requires employers not to fire veteran
employees without adequate reason.
It is natural for enterprises to pursue profit, and in so doing
observe a human resources policy aimed at keeping their labor force
energetic. But this does not mean such a policy should harm people
by keeping young employees and kicking out the old ones.
Companies with vision understand that the dedication and
devotion of employees make a difference to their operations. Such
feelings are based on a close bond between employees and employers.
Money is not the sole element in building this bond. Expedient
actions aimed at depriving employees of permanent employment will
hurt the feelings of not only veterans, but also young
employees.
In addition, employers have no reason to shirk their
responsibilities to society. Taking care of veteran employees is a
way of relieving the employment burden.
We need to do something to plug the loopholes in the new Labor
Law by making detailed explanations about how it is to be enforced
so that it will be harder for employers to infringe upon the rights
and interests of their employees.
(China Daily November 6, 2007)