Informalization of labor in contemporary China
CHAN Jenny, 2023
Name of publisher/editor
Edward Elgar Publishing
Geographic area
Asia
Summary & key words
Chan2023InformalizationofLabor
China has the world’s largest population and today hundreds of millions work in the informal economy. This chapter analyzes the key features of formal and informal labor; maps working conditions and how temporary workers (including agency laborers and student interns) resist and acquiesce to these conditions; and draws on recent research of diverse sectors including homeworking, construction, service, and the “gig” economy. The discussion section considers the role of the state in regulating informal employment. Finally, the conclusion summarizes the consequences of China’s economic transformation and reflects on the prospects of stronger labor and social protections.
Jenny Chan. 2023. “Informalization of Labor in Contemporary China.” Pp. 591-601 in Handbook of Research on the Global Political Economy of Work, edited by Maurizio Atzeni, Dario Azzellini, Alessandra Mezzadri, Phoebe Moore and Ursula Apitzsch. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. [link]