Some aspects of export labour service in China

Abstract

This paper focuses on the evolution and characteristics of the export labour service in China since the modern time especially since the reform of economic system in 1978. Historically the contract workers, central to the goal of making a living, were the main body of the international migration. And Guangdong and Fujian provinces were the main origin places of the migration but the destination of the migrants varied. Both pull and push forces for driving the migration were identified. Then analysis is turned to the characteristics of export labour service of China since the reform of economic system in 1978. 1) The export labour has increased rapidly despite a small quantity. 2) The export labour service is planned and organized. 3) The export workers are considered temporary migrants. 4) The dominant ways of export labour service are project contracts and pure labour export. And 5) the destinations of export labour are scattered over the world. Thirdly, the impact of the export labour service on the origin places and the emerging problems and contradictions were examined. In China, export labour service has alleviated the employment contradiction and gradually become one of sources of gaining foreign currency on the one hand, and China, through the service, has learnt the advanced technology and management experiences of other countries. However, some problems in the service such as small number, unsatisfactory quality of the export labour, and the weak link between the service and employment are emerging, which need to be solved. Finally, the prospects for China as a large country of export labour was discussed.