China turns a blind eye to labour violations to spur economy
Local governments across China are turning a blind eye to labour violations in an attempt to boost the economy by helping struggling businesses.
Dozens of cities and provinces have recently announced reprieves for “minor” breaches, such as forcing employees to work dangerously long hours or gender and ethnic discrimination during the hiring process.
The relief for employers, according to officials, is aimed at “improving” the business environment and creating a “well-rounded regulatory regime” as President Xi Jinping’s contentious zero-Covid policy weighs on the world’s second-largest economy.
However, the move appears to give greater weight to helping out companies than to Xi’s high-profile “common prosperity” drive to reduce social inequality.
Streets in Shanghai and Beijing are often empty, as the former slowly eases a two-month lockdown and the capital tightens restrictions to stamp out new cases.
The…
