In an effort to fight charges of forced labor and other abuses, the Chinese legistlature voted to enact a sweeping new labor law meant to improve working conditions and worker rights. The new law, which includes input from the Chinese public and foreign companies, sets standards for severance pay, the use of temporary workers, and layoffs as well as punishments for companies whose negligence or misconduct violates workers' rights. The new law comes on the heels of a recent scandal where over 1,000 workers were discovered working without pay in one of China's outer provinces.
See "China's legislature approves new labor law", International Herald Tribune, June 28, 2007