Labor Policy and Factory Management in Communist China

Abstract

IN a country justly called backward in industry, the People's Government of China today places extraordinary stress on policy to guide the modern industrial worker. Essentially this policy of the Chinese Communists is a modification of Soviet Union methods made to fit the structure of Mao Tsetung's New Democracy. Purporting to be a stage precedent to the attainment of full socialism in China, the New Democracy permits the coexistence of state and private enterprise. Thus, unlike the Russian labor program for an economy of full state ownership, Chinese policy must be designed for workers under both public and private managements. However, the Chinese industrial dichotomy affects certain details of labor policy only, and does not result in two sets of principles radically dissimilar in intent. As the policy is verbalized, at least, the workers of private industry are to enjoy roughly the same privileges as those accorded labor in state industry in such matters as organizing, collective bargaining, wages, and the settlement of disputes. The major difference is one of attitude on the part of Communist leaders pledged to the doctrine of class struggle. Although it is admitted that personnel problems may arise from bureaucratic tendencies or other deviations, the basic interests of labor and management in state enterprises are said to be alike. On the other hand, the government must paternalistically protect the workers of private industry from designing capitalists. THE WORKERS' STATUS