Inequalities in the labour market and workplaces in China: the role of the state

Inequalities exist in all societies and many aspects of life, not least in the labour market and within organisations. The role of the state is critical in eradicating political, social and economic inequality through regulatory interventions and employer policy and practice. In this chapter, we investigate the two key roles (i.e., the employer and the regulator) that the state may play in addressing employment-related inequalities in China. However, equality-driven legislative regulations and other social policies could unintentionally result in the discrimination of certain disadvantaged groups, such as women of child-rearing age and rural migrant workers, due to employers’ discriminative practices to avoid costs and management hassles. We argue that further actions are required from the state to redress social and workplace inequalities to promote inclusive employment.