The Chinese Government has issued rules to protect the rights and interests of laborers.

The regulations goes into effect as from Dec. 1 of 2004.

According to the rules, labor and social security departments of the government have the authority to punish and order employers to correct infringements.

The rules forbid assigning women to hazardous posts, such as working in mine shafts, working in high places during their menstrual period and assigning night shift to women who are more than seven months pregnant.

The rules order employers to make compensations to their employees for defaulting on wage payment in addition to paying the wages in full.

The rules forbid employers to obstruct the establishment and normal operation of trade unions.

The rules encourage reporting violations of labor rights and interests to departments of labor and social security, noting informers of major cases shall be rewarded.

Source: Xinhua