《中华人民共和国劳动合同法》英文版

LAWOFTHEPEOPLE'SREPUBLICOFCHINAONEMPLOYMENTCONTRACTS Adoptedatthe28thSessionoftheStandingCommitteeofthe10thNationalPeople'sCongressonJune29,2007EffectivefromJanuary1,2008CHAPTER1GENERALPROVISIONS  Article1ThisLawhasbeenformulatedinordertoimprovetheemploymentcontractsystem,tospecifytherightsandobligationsofthepartiestoemploymentcontracts,toprotectthelawfulrightsandinterestsofEmployeesandtobuildanddevelopharmoniousandstableemploymentrelationships.Article2ThisLawgovernstheestablishmentofemploymentrelationshipsbetween,andtheconclusion,performance,amendment,terminationandendingofemploymentcontractsby,organizationssuchasenterprises,individualeconomicorganizationsandprivatenon-enterpriseunitsinthePeople’sRepublicofChina(“Employers”)ontheonehandandEmployeesinthePeople’sRepublicofChinaontheotherhand.Theconclusion,performance,amendment,terminationandendingofemploymentcontractsbystateauthorities,institutionsorsocialorganizationsontheonehandandEmployeeswithwhomtheyestablishemploymentrelationshipsontheotherhand,shallbehandledpursuanttothisLaw.Article3Theconclusionofemploymentcontractsshallcomplywiththeprinciplesoflawfulness,fairness,equality,freewill,negotiatedconsensusandgoodfaith.Alawfullyconcludedemploymentcontractisbinding,andboththeEmployerandtheEmployeeshallperformtheirrespectiveobligationsstipulatedtherein.Article4Employersshallestablishandimproveinternalrulesandregulations,soastoensurethatEmployeesenjoytheirlaborrightsandperformtheirlaborobligations.WhenanEmployerformulates,revisesordecidesonrulesandregulations,ormaterialmatters,thathaveadirectbearingontheimmediateinterestsofitsEmployees,suchasthoseconcerningcompensation,workhours,rest,leave,worksafetyandhygiene,insurance,benefits,employeetraining,workdisciplineorworkquotamanagement,thesameshallbediscussedbytheemployeerepresentativecongressoralltheemployees.Theemployeerepresentativecongressoralltheemployees,asthecasemaybe,shallputforwardaproposalandcomments,whereuponthemattershallbedeterminedthroughconsultationswiththeTradeunionoremployeerepresentativesconductedonabasisofequality.If,duringtheimplementationofanEmployer’sruleorregulationordecisiononacrucialmatter,theTradeunionoranemployeeisoftheopinionthatthesameisinappropriate,itorheisentitledtocommunicatesuchopiniontotheEmployer,andtherule,regulationordecisionshallbeimprovedbymakingamendmentsafterconsultations.Rulesandregulations,anddecisionsonmaterialmatters,thathaveadirectbearingontheimmediateinterestsofEmployeesshallbemadepublicorbecommunicatedtotheEmployeesbytheEmployer.Article5ThelaboradministrationauthoritiesofPeople’sGovernmentsatthecountylevelandabove,togetherwiththeTradeunionandenterpriserepresentatives,shallestablishacomprehensivetri-partitemechanismforthecoordinationofemploymentrelationships,inordertojointlystudyandresolvemajorissuesconcerningemploymentrelationships.Article6ATradeunionshallassistandguideEmployeesintheconclusionofemploymentcontractswiththeirEmployerandtheperformancethereofinaccordancewiththelaw,andestablishacollectivebargainingmechanismwiththeEmployerinordertosafeguardthelawfulrightsandinterestsofEmployees.CHAPTER2CONCLUSIONOFEMPLOYMENTCONTRACTSArticle7AnEmployer’semploymentrelationshipwithaEmployeeisestablishedonthedateitstartsusingtheEmployee.AnEmployershallkeeparegisterofemployees,forreferencepurposes.Article8WhenanEmployerhiresaEmployee,itshalltruthfullyinformhimastothecontentofthework,theworkingconditions,theplaceofwork,occupationalhazards,productionsafetyconditions,laborcompensationandothermatterswhichtheEmployeerequeststobeinformedabout.TheEmployerhastherighttolearnfromtheEmployeebasicinformationwhichdirectlyrelatestotheemploymentcontract,andtheEmployeeshalltruthfullyprovidethesame.Article9WhenhiringaEmployee,anEmployermaynotretaintheEmployee’sresidentIDcardorotherpapers,normayitrequirehimtoprovidesecurityorcollectpropertyfromhimundersomeotherguise.Article10Toestablishanemploymentrelationship,awrittenemploymentcontractshallbeconcluded.Intheeventthatnowrittenemploymentcontractwasconcludedatthetimeofestablishmentofanemploymentrelationship,awrittenemploymentcontractshallbeconcludedwithinonemonthafterthedateonwhichtheEmployerstartsusingtheEmployee.WhereanEmployerandaEmployeeconcludeanemploymentcontractbeforetheEmployerstartsusingtheEmployee,theemploymentrelationshipshallbeestablishedonthedateonwhichtheEmployerstartsusingtheEmployee.Article11IntheeventthatanEmployerfailstoconcludeawrittenemploymentcontractwithaEmployeeatthetimeitsstartstousehim,anditisnotclearwhatlaborcompensationwasagreeduponwiththeEmployee,thelaborcompensationofthenewEmployeeshallbedecidedpursuanttotheratespecifiedinthecollectivecontract;wherethereisnocollectivecontractorthecollectivecontractissilentonthematter,equalpayshallbegivenforequalwork.Article12Employmentcontractsaredividedintofixed-termemploymentcontracts,open-endedemploymentcontractsandemploymentcontractstoexpireuponcompletionofacertainjob.Article13A“fixed-termemploymentcontract”isanemploymentcontractwhoseendingdateisagreeduponbytheEmployerandtheEmployee.AnEmployerandaEmployeemayconcludeafixed-termemploymentcontractuponreachinganegotiatedconsensus.Article14An“open-endedemploymentcontract”isanemploymentcontractforwhichtheEmployerandtheEmployeehaveagreednottostipulateadefiniteendingdate.AnEmployerandaEmployeemayconcludeanopen-endedemploymentcontractuponreachinganegotiatedconsensus.IfaEmployeeproposesoragreestorenewhisemploymentcontractortoconcludeanemploymentcontractinanyofthefollowingcircumstances,anopen-endedemploymentcontractshallbeconcluded,unlesstheEmployeerequeststheconclusionofafixed-termemploymentcontract:(1)TheEmployeehasbeenworkingfortheEmployerforaconsecutiveperiodofnotlessthan10years;(2)whenhisEmployerintroducestheemploymentcontractsystemorthestateownedenterprisethatemployshimre-concludesitsemploymentcontractsasaresultofrestructuring,theEmployeehasbeenworkingfortheEmployerforaconsecutiveperiodofnotlessthan10yearsandislessthan10yearsawayfromhislegalretirementage;or(3)priortotherenewal,afixed-termemploymentcontractwasconcludedontwoconsecutiveoccasionsandtheEmployeeisnotcharacterizedbyanyofthecircumstancessetforthinArticle39anditems(1)and(2)ofArticle40hereof.IfanEmployerfailstoconcludeawrittenemploymentcontractwithaEmployeewithinoneyearfromthedateonwhichitstartsusingtheEmployee,theEmployerandtheEmployeeshallbedeemedtohaveconcludedanopen-endedemploymentcontract.Article15An“employmentcontractwithatermtoexpireuponcompletionofacertainjob”isanemploymentcontractinwhichtheEmployerandtheEmployeehaveagreedthatthecompletionofacertainjobisthetermofthecontract.AnEmployerandaEmployeemay,uponreachinganegotiatedconsensus,concludeanemploymentcontractwithatermtoexpireuponcompletionofacertainjob.Article16AnemploymentcontractshallbecomeeffectivewhentheEmployerandtheEmployeehavereachedanegotiatedconsensusthereonandeachofthemhassignedorsealedthetextofsuchcontract.TheEmployerandtheEmployeeshalleachholdonecopyoftheemploymentcontract.Article17Anemploymentcontractshallspecifythefollowingmatters:(1)Thename,domicileandlegalrepresentativeormainpersoninchargeoftheEmployer;(2)Thename,domicileandnumberoftheresidentIDcardorothervalididentitydocumentoftheEmployee;(3)Thetermoftheemploymentcontract;(4)Thejobdescriptionandtheplaceofwork;(5)Workinghours,restandleave;(6)Laborcompensation;(7)Socialinsurance;(8)Laborprotection,workingconditionsandprotectionagainstoccupationalhazards;and(9)Othermatterswhichlawsandstatutesrequiretobeincludedinemploymentcontracts.Inadditiontotherequisitetermsmentionedabove,anEmployerandaEmployeemayagreetostipulateothermattersintheemploymentcontract,suchasprobationperiod,training,confidentiality,supplementaryinsuranceandbenefits,etc.Article18Ifadisputearisesduetothefactthattherateorstandardsforlaborcompensationorworkingconditions,etc.arenotexplicitlyspecifiedintheemploymentcontract,theEmployerandtheEmployeemayrenegotiate.Ifthenegotiationsareunsuccessful,theprovisionsofthecollectivecontractshallapply.Ifthereisnocollectivecontractorthecollectivecontractissilentontheissueoflaborcompensation,equalpayshallbegivenforequalwork;ifthereisnocollectivecontractorthecollectivecontractissilentontheissueofworkingconditions,therelevantregulationsofthestateshallapply.Article19Ifanemploymentcontracthasatermofnotlessthanthreemonthsbutlessthanoneyear,theprobationperiodmaynotexceedonemonth;ifanemploymentcontracthasatermofmorethanoneyearandlessthanthreeyears,theprobationperiodmaynotexceedtwomonths;andifanemploymentcontracthasatermofnotlessthanthreeyearsorisopen-ended,theprobationperiodmaynotexceedsixmonths.AnEmployermaystipulateonlyoneprobationperiodwithanygivenEmployee.Noprobationperiodmaybespecifiedinanemploymentcontractwithatermtoexpireuponcompletionofacertainjoboranemploymentcontractwithatermoflessthanthreemonths.Theprobationperiodshallbeincludedinthetermoftheemploymentcontract.Ifanemploymentcontractprovidesforaprobationperiodonly,thenthereisnoprobationperiodandthetermconcernedshallbethetermoftheemploymentcontract.Article20ThewagesofaEmployeeonprobationmaynotbelessthanthelowestwagelevelforthesamejobwiththeEmployerorlessthan80percentofthewageagreeduponintheemploymentcontract,andmaynotbelessthantheminimumwagerateintheplacewheretheEmployerislocated.Article21AnEmployermaynotterminateanemploymentcontractduringtheprobationperiodunlesstheEmployeeischaracterizedbyanyofthecircumstancessetforthinArticle39anditems(1)and(2)ofArticle40hereof.IfanEmployerterminatesanemploymentcontractduringtheprobationperiod,itshallexplainthereasonstotheEmployee.Article22IfanEmployerprovidesspecialfundingforaEmployee’strainingandgiveshimprofessionaltechnicaltraining,itmayconcludeanagreementspecifyingatermofservicewithsuchEmployee.IftheEmployeebreachestheagreementonthetermofservice,heshallpayliquidateddamagestotheEmployerasagreed.ThemeasureoftheliquidateddamagesmaynotexceedthetrainingexpensespaidbytheEmployer.TheliquidateddamagesthattheEmployerrequirestheEmployeetopaymaynotexceedtheportionofthetrainingexpensesallocabletotheunperformedportionofthetermofservice.ThereachingofagreementonatermofservicebetweentheEmployerandtheEmployeedoesnotaffecttheraisingoftheEmployee’slaborcompensationduringthetermofserviceaccordingtothenormalwageadjustmentmechanism.Article23AnEmployerandaEmployeemayincludeintheiremploymentcontractprovisionsonconfidentialitymattersrelatingtomaintainingtheconfidentialityofthetradesecretsoftheEmployerandtointellectualproperty.IfaEmployeehasaconfidentialityobligation,theEmployermayagreewiththeEmployeeoncompetitionrestrictionprovisionsintheemploymentcontractorconfidentialityagreement,andstipulatethattheEmployershallpayfinancialcompensationtotheEmployeeonamonthlybasisduringthetermofthecompetitionrestrictionaftertheterminationorendingoftheemploymentcontract.IftheEmployeebreachesthecompetitionrestrictionprovisions,heshallpayliquidateddamagestotheEmployerasstipulated.Article24ThepersonnelsubjecttocompetitionrestrictionsshallbelimitedtotheEmployer’sseniormanagement,seniortechniciansandotherpersonnelwithaconfidentialityobligation.Thescope,territoryandtermofthecompetitionrestrictionsshallbeagreeduponbytheEmployerandtheEmployee,andsuchagreementshallnotviolatelawsandregulations.Theterm,countedfromtheterminationorendingoftheemploymentcontract,forwhichapersonasmentionedintheprecedingparagraphissubjecttocompetitionrestrictionsintermsofhisworkingforacompetingEmployerthatproducesthesametypeofproductsorisengagedinthesametypeofbusinessashiscurrentEmployer,orintermsofhisestablishinghisownbusinesstoproducethesametypeofproductsorengageinthesametypeofbusiness,shallnotexceedtwoyears.Article25WiththeexceptionofthecircumstancesspecifiedinArticles22and23hereof,anEmployermaynotstipulatewithaEmployeeprovisionsonthebearingofliquidateddamagesbytheEmployee.Article26Anemploymentcontractshallbeinvalidorpartiallyinvalidif:(1)Apartyusessuchmeansasdeceptionorcoercion,ortakesadvantageoftheotherparty’sdifficulties,tocausetheotherpartytoconcludeanemploymentcontract,ortomakeanamendmentthereto,thatiscontrarytothatparty’strueintent;(2)TheEmployerdisclaimsitslegalliabilityordeniestheEmployeehisrights;or(3)Mandatoryprovisionsoflawsoradministrativestatutesareviolated.Iftheinvalidityorpartialinvalidityoftheemploymentcontractisdisputed,itshallbeconfirmedbyalabordisputearbitrationinstitutionoraPeople’sCourt.Article27Ifcertainprovisionsofanemploymentcontractareinvalidandsuchinvaliditydoesnotaffectthevalidityoftheremainingprovisions,theremainingprovisionsshallremainvalid.Article28IfanemploymentcontractisconfirmedasinvalidandtheEmployeehasalreadyperformedlabor,theEmployershallpaytheEmployeelaborcompensation.TheamountoflaborcompensationshallbedeterminedwithreferencetothelaborcompensationofEmployeesinthesameorasimilarpositionwiththeEmployer.CHAPTER3PERFORMANCEANDAMENDMENTOFEMPLOYMENTCONTRACTSArticle29TheEmployerandtheEmployeeshalleachfullyperformits/hisobligationsinaccordancewiththeemploymentcontract.Article30EmployersshallpaytheirEmployeeslaborcompensationontimeandinfullinaccordancewiththeemploymentcontractsandstateregulations.IfanEmployerfallsintoarrearswiththepaymentoflaborcompensationorfailstomakepaymentinfull,theEmployeemay,inaccordancewiththelaw,applytothelocalPeople’sCourtforanordertopay;andthePeople’sCourtshallissuesuchorderinaccordancewiththelaw.Article31EmployersshallstrictlyimplementtheworkquotastandardsandmaynotcompelorinadisguisedmannercompelEmployeestoworkovertime.IfanEmployerarrangesforaEmployeetoworkovertime,itshallpayhimovertimepayinaccordancewiththerelevantstateregulations.Article32EmployeesshallnotbeheldinbreachoftheiremploymentcontractsiftheyrefusetoperformdangerousoperationsthatareinstructedinviolationofregulationsorperemptorilyorderedbymanagementstaffoftheEmployer.Employeeshavetherighttocriticize,reporttotheauthoritiesorlodgeaccusationsagainsttheirEmployersinrespectofworkingconditionsthatendangertheirlivesorhealth.Article33Changessuchachangeinthename,legalrepresentativeormainpersoninchargeof,oran(the)investor(s)in,anEmployershallnotaffecttheperformanceofitsemploymentcontracts.Article34IfanEmployerismergedordivided,etc.,itsexistingemploymentcontractsshallremainvalidandcontinuetobeperformedbytheEmployer(s)whichsucceededtoitsrightsandobligationsArticle35AnEmployerandaEmployeemayamendtheprovisionsoftheiremploymentcontractiftheysoagreeafterconsultations.Amendmentstoanemploymentcontractshallbemadeinwriting.TheEmployerandtheEmployeeshalleachholdonecopyoftheamendedemploymentcontract.CHAPTER4TERMINATIONANDENDINGOFEMPLOYMENTCONTRACTSArticle36AnEmployerandaEmployeemayterminatetheiremploymentcontractiftheysoagreeafterconsultations.Article37AEmployeemayterminatehisemploymentcontractupon30days’priorwrittennoticetohisEmployer.Duringhisprobationperiod,aEmployeemayterminatehisemploymentcontractbygivinghisEmployerthreedays’priornotice.Article38AEmployeemayterminatehisemploymentcontractifhisEmployer:(1)Failstoprovidethelaborprotectionorworkingconditionsspecifiedintheemploymentcontract;(2)Failstopaylaborcompensationinfullandontime;(3)FailstopaythesocialinsurancepremiumsfortheEmployeeinaccordancewiththelaw;(4)Hasrulesandregulationsthatviolatelawsorregulations,therebyharmingtheEmployee’srightsandinterests;(5)causestheemploymentcontracttobeinvalidduetoacircumstancespecifiedinthefirstparagraphofArticle26hereof;(6)GivesrisetoanothercircumstanceinwhichlawsoradministrativestatutespermitaEmployeetoterminatehisemploymentcontract.IfanEmployerusesviolence,threatsorunlawfulrestrictionofpersonalfreedomtocompelaEmployeetowork,orifaEmployeeisinstructedinviolationofrulesandregulationsorperemptorilyorderedbyhisEmployertoperformdangerousoperationswhichthreatenhispersonalsafety,theEmployeemayterminatehisemploymentcontractforthwithwithoutgivingpriornoticetotheEmployer.Article39AnEmployermayterminateanemploymentcontractiftheEmployee:(1)Isprovedduringtheprobationperiodnottosatisfytheconditionsforemployment;(2)MateriallybreachestheEmployer’srulesandregulations;(3)Commitsseriousderelictionofdutyorpracticesgraft,causingsubstantialdamagetotheEmployer;(4)hasadditionallyestablishedanemploymentrelationshipwithanotherEmployerwhichmateriallyaffectsthecompletionofhistaskswiththefirst-mentionedEmployer,orherefusestorectifythematterafterthesameisbroughttohisattentionbytheEmployer;(5)causestheemploymentcontracttobeinvalidduetothecircumstancespecifiedinitem(1)ofthefirstparagraphofArticle26hereof;or(6)Hashiscriminalliabilitypursuedinaccordancewiththelaw.Article40AnEmployermayterminateanemploymentcontractbygivingtheEmployeehimself30days’priorwrittennotice,oronemonth’swageinlieuofnotice,if:(1)afterthesetperiodofmedicalcareforanillnessornon-work-relatedinjury,theEmployeecanengageneitherinhisoriginalworknorinotherworkarrangedforhimbyhisEmployer;(2)TheEmployeeisincompetentandremainsincompetentaftertrainingoradjustmentofhisposition;or(3)Amajorchangeintheobjectivecircumstancesrelieduponatthetimeofconclusionoftheemploymentcontractrendersitunperformableand,afterconsultations,theEmployerandEmployeeareunabletoreachagreementonamendingtheemploymentcontract.Article41Ifanyofthefollowingcircumstancesmakesitnecessarytoreducetheworkforceby20personsormoreorbyanumberofpersonsthatislessthan20butaccountsfor10percentormoreofthetotalnumberoftheenterprise’semployees,theEmployermayreducetheworkforceafterithasexplainedthecircumstancestoitsTradeunionortoallofitsemployees30daysinadvance,hasconsideredtheopinionsoftheTradeunionortheemployeesandhassubsequentlyreportedtheworkforcereductionplantothelaboradministrationdepartment:(1)RestructuringpursuanttotheEnterpriseBankruptcyLaw;(2)Seriousdifficultiesinproductionand/orbusinessoperations;(3)Theenterpriseswitchesproduction,introducesamajortechnologicalinnovationorrevisesitsbusinessmethod,and,afteramendmentofemploymentcontracts,stillneedstoreduceitsworkforce;or(4)Anothermajorchangeintheobjectiveeconomiccircumstancesrelieduponatthetimeofconclusionoftheemploymentcontracts,renderingthemunperformable.Whenreducingtheworkforce,theEmployershallretainwithprioritypersons:(1)WhohaveconcludedwiththeEmployerfixed-termemploymentcontractswitharelativelylongterm;(2)Whohaveconcludedopen-endedemploymentcontractswiththeEmployer;or(3)Whoaretheonlyonesintheirfamiliestobeemployedandwhosefamilieshaveanelderlypersonoraminorforwhomtheyneedtoprovide.IfanEmployerthathasreduceditsworkforcepursuanttothefirstparagraphhereofhiresagainwithinsixmonths,itshallgivenoticetothepersonsdismissedatthetimeofthereductionand,allthingsbeingequal,hirethemonapreferentialbasis.Article42AnEmployermaynotterminateanemploymentcontractpursuanttoArticle40orArticle41hereofiftheEmployee:(1)isengagedinoperationsexposinghimtooccupationaldiseasehazardsandhasnotundergoneapre-departureoccupationalhealthcheck-up,orissuspectedofhavingcontractedanoccupationaldiseaseandisbeingdiagnosedorundermedicalobservation;(2)Hasbeenconfirmedashavinglostorpartiallylosthiscapacitytoworkduetoanoccupationaldiseasecontractedorawork-relatedinjurysustainedwiththeEmployer;(3)Hascontractedanillnessorsustainedanon-work-relatedinjury,andthesetperiodofmedicalcarethereforehasnotexpired;(4)Isafemaleemployeeinherpregnancy,confinementornursingperiod;(5)HasbeenworkingfortheEmployercontinuouslyfornotlessthan15yearsandislessthan5yearsawayfromhislegalretirementage;(6)Findshimselfinothercircumstancesstipulatedinlawsoradministrativestatutes.Article43WhenanEmployeristoterminateanemploymentcontractunilaterally,itshallgivetheTradeunionadvancenoticeofthereasontherefore.IftheEmployerviolateslaws,administrativestatutesortheemploymentcontract,theTradeunionhastherighttodemandthattheEmployerrectifythematter.TheEmployershallstudytheTradeunion’sopinionsandnotifytheTradeunioninwritingastotheoutcomeofitshandlingofthematter.Article44Anemploymentcontractshallendif:(1)Itstermexpires;(2)TheEmployeehascommenceddrawinghisbasicoldageinsurancepensioninaccordancewiththelaw;(3)TheEmployeedies,orisdeclareddeadormissingbyaPeople’sCourt;(4)TheEmployerisdeclaredbankrupt;(5)TheEmployerhasitsbusinesslicenserevoked,isorderedtocloseoriscloseddown,ortheEmployerdecidesonearlyliquidation;or(6)Anothercircumstancespecifiedinlawsoradministrativestatutesarises.Article45Ifanemploymentcontractexpiresandanyo