China Witnesses Threefold Increase in Labour Protests, Reports Show

Labour protests in China have surged, particularly in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year, escalating threefold in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, according to data from Freedom House’s China Dissent Monitor.

The monitor recorded 777 labour protests from September to December 2023, compared to 245 in the corresponding period of the previous year. Analysts attribute the unrest to poor working conditions and China’s economic challenges. The real-estate sector’s decline and reduced manufacturing, combined with the economic slowdown, have intensified financial challenges for companies, contributing to the surge in worker protests.