China's Finance Minister criticizes labor law on live TV

Heated arguments lead to exhaustive reviews with input from all walks of life, continuing even after enactment in 2007. When the 2008 financial crisis swept the globe, Chinese manufacturers were hit hard and millions of workers were driven from production lines.

This, combined with China's low-end manufacturing industry being gradually transferred to Southeast Asia, brought renewed criticism and the law was blamed for not only driving up business costs, but for scaring away manufacturers, a view with which Lou apparently concurs.

"Incompatible with labor flexibility" is Lou's description of the act, with its emphasis on full-time long-term employment that has pushed away those export-oriented manufacturers who rely on seasonal orders and therefore on seasonal workers.

Before Lou 's TV tirade, on February 29 the Minister of Human Resources and Social Security had conceded that the law had decreased labor flexibility and increased business costs. Zheng Xiaohe, an NPC deputy who runs Anhui Tianfang Tea Industry Group agrees.

"The Labor Contract Law weakens employers' positions with respect to employees, and does not cover their diverse needs, for example temporary or hourly workers are not adequately dealt with," said Zheng.

"An employer who wishes to discharge an employee is under a number of obligations, but employees are not subject to similar strictures if they wish to quit, "said Gao Yafei, an entrepreneur and NPC deputy.

"The law leads to fewer and fewer openings for unskilled laborers. From an industry perspective, certain sectors could move wholesale to other countries because of rising costs," Lou said. "Who eventually bears the costs? The working class who the law was intended to protect."

Zhang Yansen, businessman and member of the CPPCC National Committee, said the spirit of the law was to protect employees, but it had crossed a line and needed to be amended. "There is no shame in it," he said. "It is only natural to have ups and downs in law making and amending, just like any other activity."

China's legislative power rests with the NPC and its Standing Committee. "Amending laws is outside the remit of the Finance Ministry. I talked previously in academic circles, but today I have been answering questions as a minister." Lou said. "Since you asked, I'm giving you an answer."