Timeline

1949: China's provisional constitution is designed to protect female and young workers and bolster safety in mining activities.

1950: The government passes a law stipulating the nature, rights and responsibilities of trade unions.

1951: China unveils a set of rules about labor insurance, helping workers cope with problems such as old age, sickness, injury and death.

1956: The State Council, China's Cabinet, launches sweeping wage reforms, which greatly improve incomes, and unveils many regulations to improve workplace safety.

1958: The State Council rolls out a regulation to promote workers' retirement welfare.

1978: China embraces performance-based evaluation methods for workers to bolster efficiency.

1982: The State Council releases regulations related to workflow, workplace safety and the management of mine workers.

1986: State-owned enterprises embrace contract-based labor relations, abolishing "jobs for life".

1987: Employment authorities ban the use of workers younger than 16.

1988: The State Council issues rules to protect the rights of female workers, including mental health rights.

1994: The top legislature enacts the Labor Law of the People's Republic of China, a milestone in the nation's labor law system.

2007: The Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China is passed. Coming into force in 2008, it limits overtime, sets minimum wages across a range of sectors and requires employers to give people made redundant one month's pay for each year worked.