New Five-Year Plan in China Aims to Enhance Worker Protection and Union Development
On September 30, 2026, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions rolled out an ambitious five-year plan designed to bolster the efficacy of trade unions while safeguarding the rights of workers. This initiative aims to facilitate the effective implementation of significant policy resolutions and to foster high-quality development throughout the union's operations. The overarching goals are aligned with China's broader mission to establish a robust nation and foster a rejuvenation of its national identity.
The plan is meticulously organized into three sections: guiding principles, core initiatives, and protective measures for execution. The first section delineates the fundamental directives, ambitions, and strategies for trade union efforts from 2026 to 2030, while the third segment outlines the mechanisms necessary for successful implementation.
The crucial second section details prioritized targets across 11 distinct areas. These include harnessing the innovative capabilities of workers, addressing challenges faced by key demographic groups, strengthening the federation's international relationships, especially concerning Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, and reinforcing the reform efforts needed to advance trade union development. Additionally, it introduces nine special columns on various aspects such as publicity, ideological advancement, labor economics, and reform strategies.
A central focus of this plan is the unwavering commitment to worker rights and service enhancement, emphasizing the goal of advancing common prosperity. Notable components aim at improving the quality of rights protection and responsive services tailored for specific worker groups, particularly those in atypical employment roles such as delivery riders, couriers, truck drivers, and ride-hailing personnel. These roles have emerged as pivotal in the contemporary social and economic landscape shaped by the digital era.
To advance these initiatives over the next five years, the plan outlines key measures to include:
According to Li Yi, deputy director at the federation, this plan prioritizes negotiations with platform companies to refine algorithms and labor regulations, thereby ensuring transparency and fairness.
Emphasizing the necessity to integrate flexible and new employment forms into social protection mechanisms, the plan articulates strategies for occupational injury insurance and social insurance system inclusion for these workers. Targeted programs aimed at enhancing welfare for workers will include:
Particular emphasis is placed on advancing maternity insurance systems, ensuring entitled leave for maternity and caregiver responsibilities, while also proposing the development of rest areas and lactation rooms for female employees.
An ambitious target of recruiting 7.5 million new members from non-traditional employment sectors over this five-year period has been set.
Recognizing that progress cannot be achieved without enhanced worker capabilities, the plan outlines a framework aimed at cultivating a solid industrial workforce through skill development reforms. This initiative specifies 12 key metrics within eight domains, which include:
By 2030, the plan anticipates the identification of approximately 1,000 national, 5,000 provincial, and 25,000 city-level master craftsmen. Additionally, there is a goal to bolster 160,000 innovation studios across various levels, with funding directed toward improving the professional skills and educational qualifications of 3 million industrial workers.
Furthermore, the plan commits to delivering at least 15 million employment services—both online and offline—per year by 2030. It also addresses crucial issues such as income and wage distribution, occupational safety rights, and protections for aging or dispatched workers.
In conjunction with this strategic plan, the federation has released a blue book, marking the first comprehensive overview of the ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the industrial workforce. This tome not only articulates theoretical frameworks and pragmatic successes but also offers insights into future directions.
Overall, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions’ five-year plan presents a cohesive strategy to uplift labor standards, ensure worker protections, and advance the development of trade unions, thus playing a vital role in promoting equitable economic growth in the coming years.
Structure of the Plan
The plan is meticulously organized into three sections: guiding principles, core initiatives, and protective measures for execution. The first section delineates the fundamental directives, ambitions, and strategies for trade union efforts from 2026 to 2030, while the third segment outlines the mechanisms necessary for successful implementation.
The crucial second section details prioritized targets across 11 distinct areas. These include harnessing the innovative capabilities of workers, addressing challenges faced by key demographic groups, strengthening the federation's international relationships, especially concerning Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, and reinforcing the reform efforts needed to advance trade union development. Additionally, it introduces nine special columns on various aspects such as publicity, ideological advancement, labor economics, and reform strategies.
Worker Rights and Protections
A central focus of this plan is the unwavering commitment to worker rights and service enhancement, emphasizing the goal of advancing common prosperity. Notable components aim at improving the quality of rights protection and responsive services tailored for specific worker groups, particularly those in atypical employment roles such as delivery riders, couriers, truck drivers, and ride-hailing personnel. These roles have emerged as pivotal in the contemporary social and economic landscape shaped by the digital era.
To advance these initiatives over the next five years, the plan outlines key measures to include:
- - Legally compliant employment practices enforced among platform companies.
- - Establishment of a robust occupational injury protection framework.
- - Enhanced vocational skills training and evaluation systems.
According to Li Yi, deputy director at the federation, this plan prioritizes negotiations with platform companies to refine algorithms and labor regulations, thereby ensuring transparency and fairness.
Addressing Employment Gaps
Emphasizing the necessity to integrate flexible and new employment forms into social protection mechanisms, the plan articulates strategies for occupational injury insurance and social insurance system inclusion for these workers. Targeted programs aimed at enhancing welfare for workers will include:
- - Special health check-ups.
- - Mutual-aid insurance for accidents.
- - Subsidized meal initiatives provided by unions.
- - Services for truck drivers and outreach to delivery personnel.
Particular emphasis is placed on advancing maternity insurance systems, ensuring entitled leave for maternity and caregiver responsibilities, while also proposing the development of rest areas and lactation rooms for female employees.
An ambitious target of recruiting 7.5 million new members from non-traditional employment sectors over this five-year period has been set.
Skill Development and Employment Services
Recognizing that progress cannot be achieved without enhanced worker capabilities, the plan outlines a framework aimed at cultivating a solid industrial workforce through skill development reforms. This initiative specifies 12 key metrics within eight domains, which include:
- - Nurturing national master craftsmen.
- - Establishing innovation studios led by exemplary workers.
- - Launching labor competitions to unleash creative potential.
By 2030, the plan anticipates the identification of approximately 1,000 national, 5,000 provincial, and 25,000 city-level master craftsmen. Additionally, there is a goal to bolster 160,000 innovation studios across various levels, with funding directed toward improving the professional skills and educational qualifications of 3 million industrial workers.
Furthermore, the plan commits to delivering at least 15 million employment services—both online and offline—per year by 2030. It also addresses crucial issues such as income and wage distribution, occupational safety rights, and protections for aging or dispatched workers.
Blue Book Publication
In conjunction with this strategic plan, the federation has released a blue book, marking the first comprehensive overview of the ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the industrial workforce. This tome not only articulates theoretical frameworks and pragmatic successes but also offers insights into future directions.
Overall, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions’ five-year plan presents a cohesive strategy to uplift labor standards, ensure worker protections, and advance the development of trade unions, thus playing a vital role in promoting equitable economic growth in the coming years.
Topics Policy & Public Interest）
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