The Harmonization of Occupational Safety and Health Standards and China's Production Safety

Liu Tiemin

Chinese Economy, 2001, vol. 34, issue 5, 20-53

Abstract: At the beginning of the twenty-first century, China will stride into the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a new member. Throughout the entire process in which China's joining the WTO was secured, there was a struggle between China and the developed nations, led by the United States. Efforts were made by these countries to hinder and block China's membership, or to boycott the process, and China countered with attempts to break through the obstacles and restrictions that were in its way. Although for the moment this struggle appears to have come to a halt, it is, one should be aware, far from over. We can predict that even after China has joined the WTO, not only will the struggle not end, it may indeed become even more complicated and intense. In fact, beneath the surface of this economic trade battle, there are deeper political and social issues and reasons for the conflict lurking in the background. In the last few years, the developed countries have consistently strived to introduce "social clauses" into the global economic trade system. Under the banner of "concern for the state of human rights in developing nations," these developed and advanced economic nations have repeatedly raised issues of "labor standards"; in other words, they have tried to link the issues of production safety in the various countries themselves to conditions of international trade. In reality, this is nothing more than "green" protectionism. China is a developing nation; for many reasonsâsome having to do, for instance, with our economic foundation in the past and with the level of technological development in Chinaâthe conditions of production safety have always been relatively poor in China. There is a very large gap between the standards and conditions of production safety in China and those that prevail in developed nations, and it would simply be very difficult for China to meet "commonly acknowledged international labor standards" in a short time. Thus, in the aftermath of joining the WTO, we may well expect that China will be confronted with some very severe tests and challenges in regard to the question of "labor standards." Therefore, the work that we must do in the area of production safety will have a tremendously important impact on China's economic and social development. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. If we are prepared for it, we will survive. If we are not, then there will be severe trouble. We simply ought to increase our sense of the urgency and the importance of this problem and do our best to be prepared for it. As people say, "A stitch in time saves nine."

Date: 2001
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