China to better protect workers' rights: action plan

China will better protect the workers' rights and their right to work, said the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-2015) released Monday by the Information Office of China's State Council.

Efforts will be made to implement a more active employment policy, improve the wage system, fully carry out the labor contract system, improve working conditions, strengthen labor safety and protect the people's right to work, the plan said.

From 2012 to 2015, the urban workforce will be increased by nine million on annual average, and the registered urban unemployment rate will be kept under 5 percent, the document said.

Moreover, a normal wage increase mechanism will be set up and the minimum wage will increase by over 13 percent annually, it said.

The government also pledged efforts to improve working conditions and to implement a safety production strategy, strengthen monitoring for workplace safety and prevent major accidents.

By 2015, the completion rate of construction of enterprise emergency platforms at national, provincial and city levels and for enterprises of high-risk industries will be 100 percent; and that in the major counties, 80 percent, the plan said.

By 2013, Grade III safety standards or above will be applied for non-coal mines and factories producing dangerous chemicals and fireworks as well as enterprises above a certain scale in the eight industrial and commercial trades of metallurgy, non-ferrous metals, building materials, machine-building, light industry, textiles, tobacco and commerce, the plan said.

Furthermore, the plan said the government will implement the Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases.