Founded in 1994 by labour activist Han Dongfang, China Labour Bulletin has grown from a small monitoring and research group into a proactive outreach organization that seeks to defend and promote workers rights in the People’s Republic of China. We are a non-governmental organization based in Hong Kong and have extensive links and cooperation with labour groups and law firms within China, as well as with the international labour movement.
We support the development of democratic trade unions, respect for and enforcement of the country’s labour laws, and the full participation of workers in the creation of civil society. We seek the official recognition in China of international standards and conventions providing for workers’ freedom of association and the right to free collective bargaining.
CLB founder and director,Han Dongfang (韩东方) has been an advocate for workers' rights in China for more than two decades during which time he has won numerous international awards from the international labour movement and human rights foundations.
He first came to international prominence when, as a railway worker in Beijing, he helped set up China’s first independent trade union, the Beijing Autonomous Workers’ Federation (BAWF), during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. He was expelled to Hong Kong in 1993; where the following year he set up CLB in order further promote labour rights in mainland China.
In addition to his work at CLB, Han is on the board of Human Rights in China, and conducts regular interviews with workers and peasants across China on Radio Free Asia. These interviews give a unique insight into the lives of ordinary working people in China and are broadcast three times a week on shortwave across China. Many interviews have been summarized on the website, and the entire archive can be listened to on our Chinese language website.
CLB’s research director, Robin Munro is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading experts on human rights in China. He has published numerous books and articles including Dangerous Minds, a ground-breaking study of political psychiatry in China.
Prior to joining CLB in 2002, he was the Sir Joseph Hotung Senior Research Fellow at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies. From 1989-98, he served as Principal China Researcher for Human Rights Watch, and from 1986-89, was a China Researcher for Amnesty International.
Chinese language website editor, Cai Chongguo (蔡崇国) was exiled from China after 1989, and since then has been a tireless advocate for workers rights in China, working closely with trade union groups and NGOs in Europe and across the world.
Our English language website is edited by Geoffrey Crothall, a writer who has been reporting on China for over two decades, and Hong Kong academic Aris Chan. Our outreach, advocacy and liaison work is handled by William Nee, who has been working in the communications field in China since 2001.
Our labour rights litigation programme is run by a team of mainland trained lawyers, who in addition provide expert analysis of China’s current and proposed labour laws.
Our researcher team includes experienced mainland labour relations experts and commentators who provide a detailed and insightful analysis of China’s labour issues, accessible to both domestic and international readers
Our Hong Kong office is administered by our experienced team of finance director Estella Chun, and administrative officer Sharren Lo.