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)