Tripartite dialogue on labour and employment issues between Switzerland and China

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs

Bern, 28.09.2023 - On 28 September, SECO, under the leadership of Boris Zürcher, Head of the Labour Directorate, received a delegation in Bern from the Chinese Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MoHRSS) and Chinese social partners for the fifth tripartite dialogue on labour between Switzerland and China. The tripartite delegations met in person for the first time since the pandemic.

Switzerland and China exchanged experiences in the area of new forms of work and addressed in particular their impact on worker protection issues and the growing demand for highly skilled workers due to the digitalisation of the working environment. Switzerland expressed concern about reports of labour discrimination, arbitrary internment, and forced labour in Xinjiang and other Chinese regions. It called on China to respect fundamental principles and rights at work as a member state of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and to implement ILO Core Conventions Nos. 29 and 105 on forced labour without delay. The representatives of the Swiss social partners supported this demand and shared their concerns, particularly with regard to trade union freedom in Hong Kong.

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Address for enquiries

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Holzikofenweg 36
CH-3003 Bern
Tel. +41 58 462 56 56
medien@seco.admin.ch

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Publisher

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
http://www.seco.admin.ch