Labour policy, social insurance, jobs data and HR tech in China.
China's new rule subjects employers underpaying social insurance to fines up to 3x the unpaid amount; employee-employer waiver agreements forfeiting social insurance contributions are invalid, strengthening employer contribution obligations.
China's 31 provinces reported 2025 average wage data: urban non-private units averaged 129,441 yuan (4.3% nominal growth); private units 71,590 yuan (3.0% growth). Twelve provinces' non-private units exceeded 120,000 yuan; eight provinces' private units surpassed 70,000 yuan. IT services led at 248,752 yuan.
China's human resources authorities clarified that workers can claim unemployment insurance benefits in certain cases of voluntary resignation. Eligibility criteria vary by local authorities.
Effective August 15, 2026, the local regulations governing sick leave pay calculations in Shanghai have expired. This affects how employers in Shanghai calculate sick leave pay going forward.
At a labor economics forum in Beijing on Chinese firms' overseas expansion and youth employment abroad, experts noted that by end-2025 China had 58,000 overseas enterprises employing 4.761 million people, including about 1.8 million Chinese expatriates. Experts cited talent gaps in Africa, Central Asia and Latin America and called for credential recognition and support for returning youth, while warning of risks from informal recruitment channels.
On October 23, 2026, the Shanghai Human Resources Public Service Center held the fourth seasonal job fair for returning overseas students, with 81 employers offering 2,259 positions and nearly 1,000 students attending. The event combined in-person recruiting with AI-assisted resume writing and job matching, featuring companies like AUMOVIO, Spring Airlines and CP Group.
BOSS Zhipin issued a notice targeting the rental/sale of recruiter accounts and posting of fabricated job listings, having already banned multiple violating accounts. The platform warned recruiters against third-party 'posting services' and cited cases of recruiters losing RMB9,000 and RMB1,600 to account rental scams, urging job seekers to verify job authenticity.
Worker Yang Baibao, 59, injured his leg at work in Sichuan in October 2022, but his work-injury claim was repeatedly rejected by authorities in Sichuan and later Foshan's Nanhai district over jurisdiction and filing deadlines, with courts upholding the rejections. On October 26, 2026, Nanhai district's human resources bureau revoked its rejection decision, reopening the path for his injury claim.
Consulting firm Mu Sheng proposed the concept of 'Human-AI Collaboration Team,' defined as a work unit combining human members and AI agents with clear role division and decision rights. The article, published Oct 26, 2026, outlines five member types and cites Gartner and Microsoft frameworks distinguishing AI tools, assistants and agents, arguing traditional HR and org management theory must evolve.
Harbin Pharmaceutical (600664.SH) announced that president Lu Chuanyou is under investigation and detention by local disciplinary authorities for suspected serious violations, about two months before his term was due to end in December 2026. He had served in the Harbin Pharmaceutical system for nearly a decade and was appointed president in late 2023; reports note his cumulative pay over the past five years exceeded RMB 10 million.
Chinese recruitment platform BOSS Zhipin said it will crack down on the renting and selling of recruiter accounts and so-called 'shell recruiting' practices. The report does not specify concrete enforcement measures, timing, or scale involved.
China's new rule subjects employers underpaying social insurance to fines up to 3x the unpaid amount; employee-employer waiver agreements forfeiting social insurance contributions are invalid, strengthening employer contribution obligations.
Individuals holding qualified professional certificates may claim a 3,600 yuan personal income tax deduction for specialized additional expenses, according to regulatory provisions.
China's 31 provinces released prior-year average wage data. The national civil service exam averaged 85 applicants per position.
Four universities in Heilongjiang—Heilongjiang University, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Qiqihar University and Jiamusi University—held autumn job fairs for 2027 graduates, attracting over 1,400 employers and offering more than 32,000 jobs combined. The province has held 165 job fairs this fall with 200+ more planned by year-end, and launched a provincial 'employment supermarket' platform hosting over 50,000 companies offering 100,000+ monthly openings.
BOSS Zhipin is expanding AI recruiting capabilities beyond job-candidate matching into recruitment delivery stages to unlock growth, though specific product details and metrics were not disclosed.
China's 31 provinces reported 2025 average wage data: urban non-private units averaged 129,441 yuan (4.3% nominal growth); private units 71,590 yuan (3.0% growth). Twelve provinces' non-private units exceeded 120,000 yuan; eight provinces' private units surpassed 70,000 yuan. IT services led at 248,752 yuan.
China faces heightened job competition, with one civil service position attracting ~6,000 applicants, reflecting labor market pressure.
On October 24, 2026, Shunde district in Foshan, Guangdong launched its 'Employment 100' campaign and previewed a forthcoming 20-point policy to boost the HR services industry. Seven HR service providers signed intent agreements, and a catering-sector job fair offered over 140 positions with monthly pay from RMB 3,000 to 30,000, drawing over 4,400 jobseekers.
Guangdong launched an「AI agent application specialist」professional training program open to qualifying residents. No programming background required; positions pay ¥20,000+ monthly. The initiative aims to develop specialized AI talent.
Over one-quarter of programmers have transitioned careers, with AI and chip sectors becoming high-salary employment trends in technology talent market flows.
China's human resources authorities clarified that workers can claim unemployment insurance benefits in certain cases of voluntary resignation. Eligibility criteria vary by local authorities.
China improves convenience of housing provident fund usage, streamlining withdrawal and loan processes; specific policy details, jurisdiction scope and effective dates remain unclear.
Seven internet platform companies in China jointly issued an initiative urging gig economy workers, such as delivery riders and ride-hailing drivers, to enroll in medical insurance, aiming to improve social protection for this workforce.
BYD deployed AI upgrades on WeChat Work covering its million-strong workforce and thousands of global stores to enhance internal management and operational efficiency.
China's State Council executive meeting proposed optimizing fiscal, social security and housing support for families to stabilize newborn population levels, though specific policy details and effective dates were not disclosed.
China's State Council executive meeting signaled social security changes, with reports indicating October pension payments increased, though specific adjustment rates and policy details were not disclosed.
Ping An Pension launched a「one-sentence corporate annuity service,」marking entry into a「3.0 era」of corporate pension products. Specific service features and coverage scope were not disclosed.
Lin Guobin, a deputy inspector of Guangdong Human Resources and Social Security Department, faces disciplinary review and investigation.
Changsha's Housing Provident Fund Management Committee implemented a notice optimizing fund policies starting October 23, valid for five years, adding withdrawal options for property fees and home renovation. By 2pm that day, 1,146 property-fee withdrawal applications had been accepted. The annual property-fee withdrawal cap is RMB 3,000 per household, while renovation withdrawals are capped at RMB 1,500 per square meter and RMB 216,000 total.
A retiree in Jiangsu, surnamed Zhu, was denied recognition of four years of work tenure before 1992 by the local human resources and social security bureau, and lost in court. After Jiangsu's procuratorate investigated and filed a protest, the provincial high court reopened the case. On June 26, 2025, the bureau recognized the tenure and paid the pension difference.
Changsha's new housing provident fund policy officially took effect on October 23, 2026, adding new withdrawal scenarios for property management fees and home renovation to broaden the fund's use and help contributors improve housing conditions.
Some 878,000 new-employment-form workers in China's Henan province, including gig and platform workers, have been covered by occupational injury protection schemes, providing a safety net for their labor rights. Specific implementation dates were not detailed in the report.