Client Alert
The Work Safety Law of the Peoples Republic of China: Expanded Workplace Safety Requirements
January 01, 2003
Glori Norwitt, Sharon Shen, Stephen Sonnenberg & Zhang Li
The Work Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China was enacted last year by the National People’s Congress, just months after China’s accession to the World Trade Organization. The law became effective on November 1, 2002.1 The Work Safety Law applies to all work units (i.e., companies and other types of entities and organizations, including state-owned, private and foreigninvested enterprises and partnerships) that engage in production and operation (e.g., operate a factory or mine, or perform construction work) in the PRC. All Work Units, regardless of their number of employees, are covered by the Work Safety Law. The law does not apply within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC, where employers must comply with other significant workplace safety requirements.