Lavoro e diritti in Cina: Politiche sul lavoro e attivismo operaio nella fabbrica del mondo

For at least a couple of decades, labour issues have been playing a fundamental role in defining the global image of China. Stories of low salaries, workplace accidents, and strikes taking place in China regularly appear on the international press, contributing to the bad reputation of what is commonly considered the “workshop of the world”. Still, now that China is on the rise as a global power, it is more important than ever to abandon any rhetoric when talking about Chinese labour. What is the role of state, trade union, and workers in China? Is it true that Chinese migrant workers are as docile as they say? And how do labour NGOs operate in an authoritarian political system? This volume, based on a decade of fieldwork, responds to these and other questions, unveiling a multifaceted reality in which social actors often play complex and contradictory roles that escape from any stereotype and simplification. Adopting a wide range of methodologies - such as textual analysis, quantative surveys, and qualitative research - this book expands our understanding of Chinese labour, exploring the paradox that sees the co-existence of a Party-state that strongly promotes labour rights with a reality in which such rights are systematically violated. The volume is organized in five chapters. The first chapter analyses the role of the Party-state in defining the language and the boundaries of the debate in the realm of labour, with particular attention to the role of the law as a tool of social control. The second chapter examines the gap between the discourse of labour rights promoted by the Chinese authorities and the reality Chinese workers face when dealing with a labour dispute. The third chapter deals with the role of the only trade union allowed in China today, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, tracking down the history of its relations with the Chinese Communist Party since the early years of the People’s Republic of China. The fourth chapter looks into the role and the limitations of Chinese civil society organisations in promoting labour rights. Finally, the fifth chapter introduces the results of a survey on how Chinese workers perceive not only the labour law, but also the role of the Party-state in protecting their rights.

Da almeno un paio di decenni "Cina" e "lavoro" rappresentano un binomio inscindibile agli occhi dell'opinione pubblica occidentale. Storie cinesi di stipendi da fame, incidenti sul posto di lavoro e scioperi appaiono regolarmente sulla stampa internazionale, contribuendo alla pessima reputazione di quella che è considerata la fabbrica del mondo. Eppure, oggi che la Cina ricopre un ruolo globale di primo piano, è più importante che mai abbandonare ogni retorica nel raccontare il mondo del lavoro cinese. Qual è il ruolo di Stato, sindacato e lavoratori in Cina? È vero che i migranti cinesi sono docili come si racconta? Come funziona il mondo delle ONG del lavoro? In questo volume, basato su un decennio di ricerca sul campo, Ivan Franceschini risponde a queste e ad altre domande, svelando una realtà sfaccettata in cui gli attori sociali svolgono ruoli complessi e contraddittori, sfuggendo a ogni stereotipo e semplificazione.