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Temporary Agency Work and Labour Rights Protection: A Case Study of China

Ning, Xueling LU (2010) JAMM06 20101
Department of Law
Abstract
Temporary agency work is one of the newest forms of work worldwide and growing rapidly over the past two decades. It is regarded as a tool to create jobs with a stepping-stone function to the labour market and to contribute to the demand of labour flexibility. However, with a triangular and flexible nature, temporary agency work as an irregular employment to some extent undermines the employment security and implies higher risk of labour rights infringement. This thesis takes China as an example, where temporary agency work industry is experiencing an unexpected boom after the nationwide recognition and regulation by the Employment Contract Law promulgated in 2008, to examine whether a balance between labour flexibility and labour rights... (More)
Temporary agency work is one of the newest forms of work worldwide and growing rapidly over the past two decades. It is regarded as a tool to create jobs with a stepping-stone function to the labour market and to contribute to the demand of labour flexibility. However, with a triangular and flexible nature, temporary agency work as an irregular employment to some extent undermines the employment security and implies higher risk of labour rights infringement. This thesis takes China as an example, where temporary agency work industry is experiencing an unexpected boom after the nationwide recognition and regulation by the Employment Contract Law promulgated in 2008, to examine whether a balance between labour flexibility and labour rights protection has been made.

The thesis first reveals the current situation of temporary agency work at both international and national levels. By making comparison studies between the status quo and corresponding legislations, a conclusion that temporary agency work in China is being abused is found, as not only a gap between national and international regulation exists, but also the development of temporary agency work in practice has deviated from the national law as well as the general practice around the world.

The thesis further examines the status quo of labour rights conditions of temporary agency workers and finds out a conflict between the de jure and de facto rights exists. Thus, a conclusion that temporary agency workers’ labour rights under national law are not well protected is made.

The thesis at last gives recommendations on how to better balance labour flexibility and labour rights protection based on China’s reality and the experience from countries in the European Union where temporary agency work is well regulated and temporary agency workers are well protected. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Ning, Xueling LU
supervisor
organization
course
JAMM06 20101
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
International Human Rights Law and International Labour Rights
language
English
id
1712325
date added to LUP
2010-11-02 17:24:02
date last changed
2010-11-02 17:24:02
@misc{1712325,
  abstract     = {{Temporary agency work is one of the newest forms of work worldwide and growing rapidly over the past two decades. It is regarded as a tool to create jobs with a stepping-stone function to the labour market and to contribute to the demand of labour flexibility. However, with a triangular and flexible nature, temporary agency work as an irregular employment to some extent undermines the employment security and implies higher risk of labour rights infringement. This thesis takes China as an example, where temporary agency work industry is experiencing an unexpected boom after the nationwide recognition and regulation by the Employment Contract Law promulgated in 2008, to examine whether a balance between labour flexibility and labour rights protection has been made. 

The thesis first reveals the current situation of temporary agency work at both international and national levels. By making comparison studies between the status quo and corresponding legislations, a conclusion that temporary agency work in China is being abused is found, as not only a gap between national and international regulation exists, but also the development of temporary agency work in practice has deviated from the national law as well as the general practice around the world. 

The thesis further examines the status quo of labour rights conditions of temporary agency workers and finds out a conflict between the de jure and de facto rights exists. Thus, a conclusion that temporary agency workers’ labour rights under national law are not well protected is made.

The thesis at last gives recommendations on how to better balance labour flexibility and labour rights protection based on China’s reality and the experience from countries in the European Union where temporary agency work is well regulated and  temporary agency workers are well protected.}},
  author       = {{Ning, Xueling}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Temporary Agency Work and Labour Rights Protection: A Case Study of China}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}