🇨🇳 China · Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Quick answer
Chinese employment requires a written labour contract within a month of starting; local minimum wages apply, the standard week is 40 hours with capped overtime, and statutory paid annual leave runs 5-15 days by total service. Employers must pay the 'five insurances and one housing fund'; disputes go to labour arbitration before the courts.
Employment is governed by the Labour Law and the Labour Contract Law, administered by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS). Written contracts and social-insurance enrolment are mandatory.
- A written labour contract is required, generally within one month of the start date.
- Employers enrol staff in social insurance and the housing fund (commonly the "five insurances and one fund").
- The standard working time is 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.
Step-by-step
- 1
Sign a written labour contract
A written labour contract must be signed within one month of starting; failing to do so exposes the employer to double-wage penalties.
- 2
Know your pay and hours rights
You must receive at least the local minimum wage; the standard is 8 hours a day / 40 a week, with overtime capped and paid at premium rates.
- 3
Understand leave entitlements
Statutory paid annual leave is 5-15 days based on your total years of work, plus public holidays and sick/marriage/maternity leave.
- 4
Register for social insurance and the housing fund
Employers must enrol you in the 'five insurances' (pension, medical, unemployment, work-injury, maternity) and the housing provident fund.
- 5
Know termination and severance rules
Termination must follow statutory grounds and notice; economic severance is generally one month's pay per year of service.
- 6
Resolve disputes through labour arbitration
Employment disputes generally go first to a labour dispute arbitration committee, then to court.
Checklist
- Written labour contract (within 1 month)
- Local minimum wage
- 40-hour week + capped, premium-paid overtime
- Statutory annual leave (5-15 days) + public holidays
- Five insurances + housing provident fund
- Statutory termination grounds/notice + severance
- Equal-treatment / anti-discrimination rules
- Dispute route (labour arbitration → court)
Official authorities
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS)
Labour and social-security administration.
Frequently asked questions
Is a written contract required?
Yes — a written labour contract must be concluded within one month; otherwise the employer may owe double wages.
What social insurance must the employer pay?
The 'five insurances' (pension, medical, unemployment, work-injury, maternity) plus the housing provident fund.
How is severance calculated?
Economic compensation is generally one month's salary for each year of service, subject to caps.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- China Government Portal — State Council official portal — policy releases, public services, and government documents
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — China's foreign policy and consular services — passport, visa, and consular protection info
- National Immigration Administration — Visas, permanent residency, and border control for foreigners entering China
- State Taxation Administration — Personal income tax filing, business tax registration, and VAT invoice verification