Chinese Workers Research Articles

A web-based safety management platform to enhance safety for Chinese migrant construction workers

Over the past decade, existing research has investigated various solutions to enhance safety management on construction sites. Among the many solutions, developing a web-based safety platform has increasingly become a key element in safety improvement strategies. International research shows that safety management platforms improve migrant workers’ safety, but evidence for such interventions in New Zealand, especially for Chinese migrant construction workers, remains limited. This study built a web prototype catering to Chinese migrant construction workers in New Zealand. The data collection method was semi-structured interviews, and the effectiveness of the novel web prototype was validated based on respondents’ feedback. Results show that this safety web prototype can effectively improve the safety knowledge and safety awareness of Chinese migrant construction workers by providing local safety policies and conducting multi-frequency long-term safety training tests. The incentive function in this web prototype can motivate Chinese migrant construction workers to use this application and enhance their safety compliance. The limitations of this research include geographical restrictions and a small sample size to evaluate the effectiveness of the prototype. Future research should incorporate a larger, cross-sectional sample to assess the effectiveness of web-based safety awareness solutions, enabling more generalizable conclusions for construction workers of diverse nationalities and regions.

Multisystemic Therapy for a Child in Difficult Circumstances With Disruptive Behavior in China: A Single-Case Design

Purpose: This study aims to address concerns about the ability of Chinese social workers to collaborate with multiple systems and effectively implement multisystemic therapy (MST), given their low professional status. Based on the first MST practice in Mainland China, the study evaluates the effectiveness of MST in addressing disruptive behaviors in a child in difficult circumstances (CDCs), assesses its fitness within the Chinese context, and explores strategies for social workers to collaborate within the contexts of the specialized protection system for CDCs and the establishment of social work service stations. Method: A single-case AB research design with repeated measures across multiple contexts was adopted. Results: The study suggests MST's potential effectiveness and cultural and political compatibility in China, and identifies three strategies for social workers to intervene across multiple systems. Conclusion: MST could be a valuable tool in social work practice with proper integration into local systems in China.

Representation of migrant workers in Chinese newspapers: combining topic modeling and critical discourse analysis

Abstract Chinese migrant workers have contributed greatly to the industrialization and urbanization of China and have thus long been a popular topic in news reports. Most previous studies on the news about this group have been qualitative or quantitative analyses based on small-scale datasets, with few based on large-scale corpus data. This study combined topic modeling and critical discourse analysis (CDA) to analyze 186,180 reports of migrant workers published by 906 Chinese newspapers between 2001 and 2021. We identified seventeen topics in the news that fell into five categories: “work and labor,” “support and care,” “rights and interests,” “homecoming,” and “social emergencies.” Overall, news reports on the group have become increasingly diverse, with various diachronic changes in the proportions of topic categories and specific topics. In addition, we found three major types of representation of migrant workers: as a disadvantaged group, as outsiders, and as a group vulnerable to risks. These negative representations might be closely related to government policies, ideology, media stance, and social reality (the broader societal context in which these individuals are situated).

Unique Gut Microbiome and Metabolic Profiles in Chinese Workers Exposed to Dust: Insights from a Case-Control Study.

This study aimed to identify distinct gut microbiome and serum metabolic features in workers exposed to dust compared to healthy controls. A case-control study was conducted with dust-exposed workers without silicosis and age-matched healthy controls. Gut microbiome composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, and serum and fecal metabolomic profiles were assessed by LC-MS. Dust-exposed workers showed higher levels of Blautia and Trichoderma and lower levels of Anaplasma, Aspergillus, Plasmodiophoromycetes, and Escherichia coli-Shigella. Metabolites such as indole-3-acetate and gentamicin C1a were downregulated, while adenine, 2-phenylacetamide, and 4-pyridoxic acid were upregulated. Blautia spp. were linked to altered metabolites in dust-exposed workers, suggesting microbiome-metabolite interactions that may affect silicosis progression. However, the small sample size and cross-sectional design limit generalizability, and further longitudinal studies are needed.

‘Re-coupling site’ of social media and the workplace in digital nomadism: Chinese female workers’ self-produced vlogs with class and gender connotations

ABSTRACT We observe that a new, minor genre of resistance has emerged among female worker vloggers. Whether working in manufacturing plants or on construction sites, these female worker vloggers actively produce videos about the laughter and tears of their work lives. Their workplaces constitute the central source of their daily vlog production. We develop a concept of ‘re-coupling site’ to explore how these female vloggers transform conventional workplaces into novel digital sites, simultaneously turning themselves into digital laborers, to articulate their voices, perform their work identities, and enact their daily resistance. This concept helps induce a new interpretation of place and placed experience to fashion our understanding of working-class digital nomadism in the Global South context, where digital and cultural production can happen at work. Perhaps more importantly, the class and gender experiences articulated in their vlogs have been translated into collective practices that potentially foreground the formation of class-based online communities.

Aging With Emerging Social Welfare and Disappearing Filial Piety: Chinese Migrant Workers' Pathways Toward Financial Retirement Planning.

This study examines the pathways and mechanisms linking Chinese migrant workers' migration experiences and their financial retirement planning. Using a mixed-methods approach with 1083 surveys and 32 interviews, this study finds that having a good financial status and social support system and maintaining a hopeful attitude toward retirement are direct pathways toward good financial retirement planning. Good health and hope for retirement are further enhanced by a good financial status and social support. Conversely, poor health and negative employment experiences are linked to poor financial retirement planning. The qualitative findings provide a contextual understanding of the pathways identified in the quantitative analyses. Migrant workers often face a dilemma between self-reliance for retirement and relying on filial piety. These findings apply not only to Chinese migrant workers but also to all migrant workers with limited access to healthcare and public pensions for retirement.

The redemption of The Accidental Republic: 70 years of Chinese Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Abstract The Accidental Republic is a concern for all industrialised countries, and China is no exception. To solve this problem, Workers’ Compensation Insurance (WCI) is a perfect option. The redemption of The Accidental Republic can be understood through the development of WCI. However, little attention has been paid to the development of Chinese WCI. Starting from labour insurance regulations promulgated in 1951, this research explores over 70 years of reform and development of Chinese WCI, explicitly dividing reforms into three phases – establishment and implementation, exploration and practice, and adaptation and formation – that aligned with stages of China’s economic development. Further, the insurance fund performance in the last decade is evaluated by Data envelopment analysis and Malmquist (DEA-Malmquist), through the static and dynamic results, yielding generally average results. Subsequently, five major problems of WCI are identified and discussed and five suggestions offered drawing on international comparison and the national situation. Lastly, the accidental and inevitable aspects of China’s WCI system during the redemption of The Accidental Republic are summarised.

Will Fun and Care Prevent Gig Workers' Withdrawal? A Moderated Mediation Model

ABSTRACTThis study investigates how gig work challenges influence job withdrawal, mediated by stressors and perceived job insecurity, while considering the moderating effects of playful work design and a caring organizational ethical climate. Drawing on Cognitive–Emotional Systems Theory and the job demands–resources model, data were gathered from 516 Chinese gig workers. Results show that gig work challenges positively impact job withdrawal by triggering stressors and job insecurity. Notably, playful work design moderates this relationship, mitigating the impact of gig work challenges as hedonic job crafting levels increase. However, the caring ethical climate does not significantly influence the relationship between stressors and perceived job insecurity in the gig work context. The findings suggest that promoting playful work design can be an effective strategy to alleviate the negative effects of gig work challenges, thereby enhancing job satisfaction and retention in the gig economy. This study also provides a new perspective on understanding the mechanisms behind gig workers' workplace withdrawal behaviors, deepening the application of the Cognitive–Emotional Systems Theory and the Job Demands–Resources Model in the gig economy.

The Protection of Labor Rights of Chinese Multinational Corporations under the Belt and Road Initiative

With the deepening of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, the number of Chinese overseas workers is increasing, and the protection of labor rights and interests is becoming more and more prominent. This article analyzes the problems in the protection of labor rights and interests of Chinese multinational corporations and their causes, and finds that these problems are mainly concentrated in the aspects of identity legitimacy, law application, discrimination in employment access and neglect of the right to human dignity. The incompleteness of the host country's legal and social security system, the inadequacy of diplomatic and consular protection in the home country, the lack of social responsibility of transnational corporations, and the weak awareness of workers' rights are all important reasons for the violation of workers' rights and interests. In order to solve these problems, the paper proposes optimization paths at the national level, the level of transnational companies and the level of workers themselves, including building regional agreements, strengthening legal aid, implementing legal training and raising awareness of self-protection. Through multi-faceted efforts, we can better protect the legitimate rights and interests of overseas workers of Chinese multinational companies, promote the smooth implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, and achieve the goal of win-win cooperation.

Towards Digital Adaption: An Exploration of Chinese Social Workers’ Experiences of Digital Service Challenges and Coping Strategies in the Context of COVID-19

Abstract This study is based on interviews with sixty-three Chinese social workers to explore the challenges they faced and the strategies they adopted when using digital technology for front-line services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Employing an ecosystem theory, thematic analysis is applied to analyse interview transcripts. The findings reveal three major challenges faced by social workers: limited digital capital, digital-mediated service predicaments and the digital burden. To address the aforementioned challenges, social workers adopted four strategies: digital empowerment, adjustment of online service processes, leveraging the advantages of digital technology and asking colleagues for support. This study suggests enhancing support for social workers through improved digital training and psychological care, integrating digital-mediated social work skills into academic curricula, and fostering interdisciplinary partnerships to develop and utilize reliable digital tools, thereby improving the quality and effectiveness of social work in the digital age.

Differences in PCV13 Recommendation Practices between Pediatric Care Providers and Primary Care Providers in China: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Behavior and Social Drivers.

Objectives: This study examines the recommendation behaviors and influencing factors for the 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) among 3579 Chinese healthcare workers (HCWs), including 1775 pediatric care providers (Peds-PCPs) and 1804 primary care providers (PCPs). Data were collected from May to July 2023 through a national cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire, distributed across hospitals providing pediatric services in five provincial-level administrative divisions. Methods: The sociodemographic data, vaccine knowledge, and recommendation practices were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test, Wilcoxson rank-sum test, and multivariate logistic regression. Results show that while PCPs are more likely to recommend PCV13, vaccine hesitancy persists among Peds-PCPs. Logistic regression revealed that higher influenza vaccination intention, salary, vaccine consultation frequency, familiarity with immunization, work ethic, and flexible schedules positively impacted HCWs' recommendation behavior. Results: Factors influencing Peds-PCPs' recommendations include vaccine training (OR: 1.470, CI: 1.049-2.509), safety recognition (OR: 1.986, CI: 1.163-3.391), concern over rejection (OR = 1.274, CI: 1.076-1.508) and vaccine cost (OR = 1.203, CI: 1.023-1.414). For PCPs, influencing factors were the perceived susceptibility of children to pneumonia (OR = 2.185, CI: 1.074-4.445), acceptance of herd immunity (OR: 1.717, CI: 1.101-2.677), and belief that parents with better family conditions are more likely to accept vaccine recommendations (OR = 1.229, CI: 1.024-1.477). Conclusion: This survey underscores the need for tailored interventions to address differing perceptions and enhance confidence in the safety and efficacy of vaccines among HCWs, particularly Peds-PCPs.

Exploring the Influence of Internet Usage Attitudes on Educational Equity among Chinese Migrant Workers: A Regional Analysis

As urban builders, migrant workers (rural residents working in cities) should fairly enjoy urban educational resources. However, due to their social status, they face numerous educational challenges. This study explores how Chinese migrant workers' attitudes towards Internet usage influence educational equity, particularly in an environment where the Internet has become indispensable for learning, work, and daily life among Chinese residents. Using ANOVA and correlation analysis, the study investigates the relationship and influencing factors between migrant workers' attitudes towards Internet usage and educational equity. The research data were obtained from a 2020 survey conducted by the Peking University Chinese Social Sciences Survey Center, focusing primarily on Chinese migrant workers. The findings reveal that migrant workers' attitudes towards Internet usage significantly impact educational equity; groups that place greater emphasis on Internet usage exhibit better educational equity than others. Although the statistical differences in Internet usage attitudes among different regions are not significant, educational equity disparities among regions remain statistically significant. Based on these findings, recommendations are provided at the family, school, and government levels, aiming to address the digital divide, establish remote open education platforms, and improve the household registration system to enhance educational equity for migrant workers.

The Impact of Retirement on Subjective Well-Being: Evidence from Chinese Formal Sector Workers

The Impact of Retirement on Subjective Well-Being: Evidence from Chinese Formal Sector Workers

A Study on the Phonetic Symbols of Action Characters in Shuowen · Renbu

The study of Chinese philology has always been of interest to Sinologists worldwide. As a pictographic script, Chinese characters are divided into independent meaningful single-font character and composite characters made up of multiple elements. Some composite characters are formed by combining a meaningful symbol with a phonetic symbol, which are known as "semantic-phonetic characters (pictophonetic characters)". We have discovered that some semantic-phonetic characters also convey meaning, and the meanings they express belong to certain categories, reflecting the psychology of the people who created the characters and the cultural features of the Han ethnic group. In this article, we will conduct a thorough exploration of the behavior-related characters in Shuowen·Renbu, a monumental ancient Chinese work.

Work overload and burnout among chinese social workers during and post-covid-19: the impact of organizational support and professional identity

Work overload and burnout among chinese social workers during and post-covid-19: the impact of organizational support and professional identity

Immediate shock and residual stress: Unmasking the dual dynamics of covid-19 on the mental health of health professionals in China.

The pandemic of 2019 has created large scale disruption around the globe. It has posed extraordinary hurdles for Chinese health workers, affecting their mental health with respect to situations in the present as well as the future. Recognising the dynamic features of these mental health issues among health professionals is critical for developing effective support systems. This study aims to explore the dual impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of health professionals in China, both during and after the pandemic; to explore the probable underlying factors causing these mental health issues; to identify both adaptive and maladaptive coping behaviours employed by the health personnel; and to assess the organisational and social support to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the mental health of the Chinese health professionals. To address these objectives an explorative qualitative research design has been adopted involving analysis of previous researches in the relevant field. The study confirms anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, PTSD, and burnout among medical personnel as immediate shock and residual stress, along with its demographic variations. Few maladaptive coping behaviours have been identified that can lead to delayed psychological effects even after a pandemic. The key findings underscore the complicated interaction of immediate and delayed mental health challenges among health professionals, advocating for the deployment of tailored treatments and policy modifications to address the ever changing needs of this vital workforce.

The dark side of enterprise social media and employee digital creativity: Communication visibility perspective

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the significances of excessive usage of enterprise social media (ESM) on individuals’ digital creativity through ESM exhaustion. In addition, we intend to investigate the significance of ESM visibility as a moderator in the connection between excessive usage of ESM, ESM exhaustion, and digital creativity. The results presented in this study are derived from primary data collected from 718 Chinese workers who utilize ESM. The data analysis were conducted using SPSS version 23.0. Findings revealed that excessive usage of ESM is negatively linked to employee digital creativity and has a significant impact on ESM exhaustion. ESM exhaustion is negatively related to employee digital creativity. ESM visibility is further found to play a significant moderating role in strengthening the connection between excessive use of ESM and ESM exhaustion. Additionally, ESM visibility reinforces the negative association between excessive use of ESM and employee digital creativity. This study encompasses ESM users' perceptions of the connection between excessive ESM usage and its exhaustion, providing evidence for organizations to develop and manage ESM usage policies to mitigate the negative impact of ESM usage for employees.

Is COVID-19 related workload related to Chinese social workers’ mental health? A moderated mediation model of compassion burnout and emotional regulation

COVID-19-related workload is a significant determinant of social worker mental health, with limited exploration of the underlying mechanisms. This study investigates the mediating role of compassion burnout and the moderating effect of emotional regulation among 1023 Chinese social workers. Compassion burnout partially mediates the COVID-19 workload–depression relationship, while emotional regulation moderates this link and the impact of compassion burnout on depression. Notably, social workers with higher emotional regulation exhibit reduced susceptibility. This research advances our understanding of the COVID-19 workload’s impact on mental health and offers policy and organizational-level recommendations for safeguarding Chinese social workers’ well-being.

Atomized Incorporation: Chinese Workers and the Aftermath of China's Rise by Sungmin Rho

Atomized Incorporation: Chinese Workers and the Aftermath of China's Rise <i>by Sungmin Rho</i>

Правовое регулирование деятельности трудовых иммигрантов-корейцев российским императорским правительством в годы Первой мировой войны (на английском)

The article analyzes the conditions of labor migration of ethnic Koreans from Manchuria and China to the Urals of the Russian Empire in 1915—1916, and their experience of interaction with the local Russian authorities. The research is based on the archival materials of the State Archive of the Sverdlovsk region (GASO). This article focuses on the legal and social status of the Korean laborers, their living conditions, habitat, and local conflicts. The study draws on theoretical insights from a range of works on immigration, and the political and economic integration of immigrants. With the onset of World War I, conscription into the Russian Imperial Army drained the manpower reserves, especially in the industries in the Urals. Some industries were under threat of permanent closure. The local tsarist administration petitioned the Foreign Ministry to employ Chinese and Korean laborers in these regions. The results of the research show that the Imperial government did not have a coherent structural plan for the accommodation of Eastern immigrant workers. The government largely improvised, regulating the migration process by issuing various decrees aimed at creating a legal basis for the immigrants. The findings also contradict the earlier Soviet historiography hypothesis about the widespread oppression of ethnic minorities in the Russian Empire. Unlike the Chinese workers who eventually left Russia for Manchuria, the Korean workers chose to stay in Russia after their contractual obligations expired and enjoyed the same rights and privileges as local Russian workers. The research reveals evidence of mistreatment of Korean workers; however, the wrongdoers were local Russian Korean merchants who acted as intermediaries between the local administration and the hired Korean immigrant workers.