Company News

China is tightening its regulations on labor dispute mediation so that employees can find ways to better protect their labor rights, and so that employers treat labor disputes more seriously.

Female employees in China may receive greater maternity benefits in the future, including longer maternity leave, as well as special working conditions and expanded health care coverage, according to the new “Provisions on Female Labor Protection under Special Circumstances (Draft for Public Opinions)” disclosed by the Legislative Affairs Office of China’s State Council yesterday.

The “Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (China-Syria DTA)” – signed on October 31, 2010 – came into effect on September 1, 2011, according to the State Administration of Taxation.

China will reduce or eliminate value-added tax (VAT) burdens on enterprises that recycle wasted resources during production, in a bid to further promote the country’s circular economy that makes industrial manufacturing more environmentally friendly.

China is attaching more importance to supporting company restructuring as well as mergers and acquisitions (M&As), hoping these business activities will help optimize the country’s resource distribution and push forward economic transition.

China’s Ministry of Land and Resources issued the “Urgent Circular on Strictly Prohibiting Industrial and Commercial Enterprises from Altering Land Use Purpose without Permission for Constructing Non-agricultural Facilities on Leased Agricultural Land” on November 29, 2011.