China's legislators are considering special protection for women
workers in the draft labor contract law.
The bill, currently in its third reading with the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top
legislative body, has triggered national debate on protecting
workers' interests.
"I suggest adding items of special protection for female workers
into the draft law, because women make up a relatively large
proportion of the work force, but they face unavoidable issues like
maternity," said Zhao Di, a member of the NPC Standing
Committee.
NPC Standing Committee members agreed special protection for
women was "an indispensable part" of collective contracts and
should be included in the labor contract law, but the details of
the protection were not discussed.
About 50.2 percent of female migrant workers have no labor
contracts, compared with 40.2 percent of men, according to a survey
on the rights of rural female workers conducted by the All-China
Women's Federation.
The survey showed about 21 percent of rural women in cities were
fired after they became pregnant or had a child. A growing number
of working women delayed giving birth to children fearing their
maternity leave would result in the loss of promotions or even
jobs.
Zhao suggested that employers take responsibility for preventing
sexual harassment in working areas, and this ought to be supervised
by labor administrations.
"Sexual harassment can not be ignored when women's rights are
discussed," Zhao said, describing it as a "social and even
international issue".
Zhao said the law on women's rights protection failed to specify
the responsibilities of employers in sexual harassment cases, and
this should be clarified in the labor contract law.
The draft law, aimed at establishing "stable and harmonious"
relations between employers and employees, is one of the top items
on the NPC agenda. If enacted, it will be the country's first
specific law governing labor contracts。
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2007)