In Chinese labor law, the workforce refers to the members of the population who are fit to work that are of working age. China uses a Marxist conception of the workforce and workers by adopting the labor theory of value in its modern context, characterizing work as either mental labor or physical labor, in contrast to capital, which does not invest labor but instead seeks rent on its properties.

Thus, the Chinese word “laodongzhe” has three meanings derived from its historical evolution: (1) the historical laborer, as in the 19th century (2) Any worker, i.e. someone who provides mental labor or physical labor; (3) an employee who works full-time but not part time. The Chinese word for “workforce,” laodongli, is a portmanteau of “labor” and “force”.

Learn more  at CBL’s China employment & labor law FAQ here.