2025/07/10 by Ding Fei · 1 voice
Health Professions · Social Sciences · #Digital Economy and Work Transformation #Employment and Welfare Studies #Migration and Labor Dynamics
paper · doi:10.1017/s0305741025100970
openalex publication_date 2025/07/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/06
Abstract This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on labour governance and legal struggles faced by overseas Chinese workers. Drawing on migration studies and legal research, it explores the intersections of state, labour and law in the context of transnational mobility and dispute resolution. Through critical analysis of policy directives and court rulings, the paper highlights the Chinese government’s dual challenge in the wake of the pandemic: maintaining the continuity of overseas business operations to safeguard corporate profitability and China’s international image, while also protecting workers’ rights to uphold social stability. The findings reveal that overseas workers were at times overlooked in central government policy guidelines, despite facing unique legal, spatial and logistical challenges owing to the transnational and trans-jurisdictional nature of their employment. This lack of tailored policy attention has resulted in inconsistencies and disparities in how domestic courts adjudicate their legal claims. Gaps in overseas labour governance during times of crisis underscore the need for clearer legal stipulations and more inclusive judicial protections to address the complexities of transnational labour disputes under “Global China.”