China’s official trade‑union newspaper has asked policymakers to act.
Workers’ Daily published an editorial demanding that government agencies create a “dam” to shield labour rights while AI technology proliferates across the economy. The piece, printed by the All‑China Federation of Trade Unions, warned that unchecked AI adoption could erode existing safeguards for workers.
The call matters because China is rapidly deploying AI in manufacturing, logistics and services, sectors that employ the bulk of its workforce. Without specific rules, algorithms could automate jobs, reshape shift patterns or enable surveillance that bypasses current labour regulations.
If Beijing does not introduce targeted measures, the gap between AI rollout and worker protection could widen, echoing concerns raised in other jurisdictions where technology outpaces policy.