Question

Which of the following is false about labor relations in China?

a. Today there is little flexibility for employers when it comes to staffing as all workers have a right to appeal any termination.
b. Traditionally, the relationship has been between workers and the government, not workers and individual enterprises.
c. Rather than serving workers, trade unions were used in the past to keep an eye on and control workers.
d. At one time, workers were assigned to state-owned enterprises and guaranteed lifetime employment.
e. Although unions have been given the right to engage in collective bargaining, Chinese workers have little faith in the unions and see them only as social welfare agents.

Answer 1

The false statement about labor relations in China is that today there is little flexibility for employers regarding staffing, as workers can appeal any termination. This contrasts with the authoritarian control and lack of strong labor rights in China.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement which is false about labor relations in China is option (a), which states that today there is little flexibility for employers when it comes to staffing as all workers have a right to appeal any termination. Compared to Western countries, China's labor policies are more rigid due to the strong control of the authoritarian state. Although there has been economic reform, workers' rights regarding termination and collective bargaining are not robust. In the past, trade unions in China maintained control over workers rather than serving their interests, and the government was deeply involved in labor relations. Workers were assigned to state-owned enterprises with guarantees of lifetime employment, which is no longer the norm as China shifts towards a market-driven economy with less state intervention in employment.

The relationship between workers and the government, rather than individual enterprises, has been traditionally emphasized. Trade unions, which were historically used to control workers, have been given the right to engage in collective bargaining, although Chinese workers tend to have little faith in the unions and see them only as social welfare agents.