In China, more young people than ever more are receiving vocational education training, with total enrollment at China’s secondary vocational education institutions at over 21 million students in 2012. Chinese policies require these secondary vocational education institutions to provide their students with internships – leading to challenges for educational institutions, students and employers to respect those students’ rights and wellbeing in the workplace.
In response to this situation, the Labour Education and Service Network (LESN) and the Nanjing University Law School Labour Law Legal Mediation Programme – both established civic organizations on vocational education and labor rights – have created this toolkit. Sponsored by the non-profit industry organization the Responsible Business Alliance (EICC), this toolkit is designed to support responsible management of student interns by electronics manufacturing facilities in mainland China.
From November 2013 to May 2014, the research team from LESN and Nanjing University conducted case studies in seven factories and vocational schools. The team also reviewed common issues, related regulations and the EICC Code of Conduct and its related Validated Audit Program (VAP) audit protocol.
This toolkit consists of two sections:
- Section 1 provides detailed analysis of legal frameworks on student workers and defines the legal rights and obligations of vocational schools, factories and students.
- Section 2 features a practical toolkit to responsible management of student workers, including a self-assessment checklist for management. This section also shares case studies of good practices by factories and vocational schools.
We hope that this toolkit provides companies with a comprehensive tool to help them respect their student interns rights and wellbeing and improve cooperation between schools and enterprises using student workers. Through improved understanding of shared obligations and opportunities, students, schools and industry can develop in healthy and sustainable ways that benefits everybody in society.
The authors would like to acknowledge their appreciation for the input and support from the EICC Student Workers Working Group.
View the toolkit
This publication is available to EICC member companies and their suppliers only.
Download options:
- EICC e-Learning Academy, "Resources" section (access available to EICC members and suppliers)
- EICC members-only website (access available to EICC members)
*If you are an EICC member or supplier and cannot locate your password or need to create an account, please contact EICC Member Services.
Please note the entire toolkit is currently available only in Chinese. A summary of the toolkit's recommendations and checklist for companies is available in English. The EICC plans to translate the entire toolkit into English in 2015.
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