Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 (No. 19) - China (Ratification: 1934)

1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its last report, in particular the information on the reform of the industrial injury insurance system. In this regard, the Committee notes that the Ministry of Labour in 1996 promulgated provisional Regulations on Insurance Against Industrial Injuries with the aim of reforming and improving the old system of compensation; section 2 of these new Regulations specifies that all enterprises and persons employed in China are required to observe these Regulations. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide a copy of these Regulations with its next report.

2. The Committee also notes the adoption in 1996 by the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Regulations concerning the employment of foreign citizens in China. The Committee notes with interest that, under section 23 of these Regulations, national legislation applies to foreign citizens employed in China, including with regard to occupational safety and health and social security.

3. The Committee notes the Government's statement to the effect that China has not signed any agreement of the type referred to in Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention, but that the need to do so will make itself felt as the country opens up to the world and its foreign exchanges increase. The Government is requested to provide information on any development in this regard.

4. The Committee notes that, in 1996, 180,000 foreigners were working in China and that there had been no reported cases of accidents involving these workers. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide, in accordance with point V of the report form, information on the application in practice of the Convention by providing, where possible, extracts from inspection reports and statistics on the number and nationality of foreigners working in China, the number of accidents involving these workers and, where appropriate, the amount and nature of compensation paid to them.