One Brand of Workplace Democracy: The Workers' Congress in the Chinese Enterprise

Abstract

The workplace institution of the 'workers' congress' has a long but staggering history in the People's Republic of China. Recently, the system has been revived in an enhanced form in order to give worker participation in enterprise management a new vitality. The congress is intended to buttress the practice of self-management in the factory as the Chinese economy moves closer towards the Yugoslav model of 'market socialism'. But it is questionable how much the party has abandoned its hegemonic control under the present attempt to superimpose the workers congress on the pre-existent authority structure of 'parly leadership and director accountability'. And other problems may be envisaged. This paper makes an exploratory enquiry into these problems and suggests that they may be compared to those that constrain the operation of the 'works council' formula in eastern Europe.

Worker Congresses in China: Do they matter?

“…While the impact of Congresses in China is an area that is under-researched, there are a number of studies that outline their evolution and role (Estlund, 2014(Estlund, , 2017Feng, 2012;Hong, 1984;1 The provisions were jointly established by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the Ministry of Supervision, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce on Feb. 13, 2012. Lee et al, 2016;Long et al, 2022;Schipani & Liu, 2018).…”

“…Recently, however, Worker Congresses appear to be experiencing a modest revival or comeback (Estlund, 2014(Estlund, , 2017Hong, 1984;Long et al, 2022;Schipani & Liu, 2018). This could reflect a variety of strategic inter-related purposes: to provide an institution that allows employees to voice their suggestions to management (Schipani & Liu, 2018); to provide an alternative platform to unions that can contain workplace conflict in a way that is consistent with the pro-worker ideology in the Communist Party (Estlund, 2017;Hong, 1984); and to act as a representative of the workers as a more effective means to manage their discontent and suggestions (Ding et al, 2002).…”

Management at the enterprise‐level in China*

“…Information concerning the structure and operations of the workers' congresses is sparse and fragmented. Ng provides one of the most recent and comprehensive accounts of the reconstructed machinery of the workers' congresses, part of which is summarised below [23]. Provisional regulations governing the workers' congresses were proclaimed in June 1981.…”

What sort of workplace democracy can democratic management achieve in China?

“…The communist ideology underscored the idea of the “working class as the master of enterprises and the state.” Public ownership of production materials necessitated DM in state enterprises to ensure the status of workers and staff. DM was deployed in state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) to address “contradictions among the people” and to shore up workers' support for the CCP (Cliver, 2009; Jiang, 1991; Ng, 1984). Secondary to political orientation, the managerial orientation of DM was to enhance productivity and resolve task‐related issues.…”

“…The Constitution of PRC 1982 stipulates that state enterprises and collective economic establishments shall practise DM by means of WSRCs and other instruments. Trade union committees served as the working institution for WSRCs (Jiang, 1991; Ng, 1984). At least on paper, the WSRC has the authority to oversee enterprises' major strategic policies and significant matters on operation and management.…”