China’s Workers' Daily advocates for protections for workers in the AI sector.

      China’s Workers’ Daily, the official publication of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, has released an editorial calling on regulators to safeguard labor rights in response to the rising prevalence of artificial intelligence. The article emphasizes the need for increased supervision of AI algorithms and cautions against allowing the market to dictate automation strategies aimed purely at job reduction, as Citigroup estimates indicate that 70 million workers in China may be at risk of displacement due to AI.

      The Workers’ Daily, which serves as the voice of the country’s overarching trade union federation, presents this editorial titled: “As the AI wave increases, how can we create a solid 'dam' for workers’ rights?” The commentary urges regulatory bodies to enhance labor standards and tighten oversight of AI technologies. It warns that the implementation of AI focused solely on minimizing human labor should be approached carefully and not be entirely left to market dynamics.

      “The advancements in technology should benefit society at large rather than serve a small group of employers at the detriment of workers’ rights,” the publication stated, as reported by Bloomberg.

      Amidst an already delicate labor scenario, the intervention occurs as China faces the challenges posed by its ambitious AI integration objectives. The state's "AI Plus" initiative aims for a 70% AI adoption rate in key sectors by 2027, increasing to 90% by 2030, according to a guideline released by the State Council last year.

      Estimates from Citigroup suggest that the implementation of AI in China could displace approximately 70 million workers, with around 9.6% of all jobs at significant risk of being automated. This risk escalates to 13.6% for younger workers in their 20s, as highlighted by a Reuters analysis.

      Many Chinese companies are quietly initiating small-scale layoffs as they pursue productivity enhancements linked to AI. Due to labor laws mandating government approval for job cuts exceeding 10% of a workforce, businesses are restructuring in smaller increments to evade regulatory scrutiny.

      The Workers’ Daily outlines two primary concerns in its editorial on labor protections during what it refers to as the “AI wave.” The first issue involves violations of personal rights through the “distillation” of white-collar talents, whereby companies extract employees' expertise to train AI systems that lead to those same workers being laid off.

      The second issue relates to the lack of transparency for platform workers, such as couriers and drivers, who encounter opaque systems determining order assignments, pricing, and route planning without clear insights into the decision-making processes.

      Recently, China has formalized protections for over 200 million gig workers, instituting requirements for algorithm transparency, minimum wage laws, and maximum working hours, which must be implemented by 2027.

      The editorial's context reflects ongoing actions in the courts and regulatory bodies. Chinese courts have already started issuing favorable rulings for workers displaced by AI. In April 2026, a court in Hangzhou ruled that a technology company wrongfully terminated a quality assurance supervisor after automating his role, asserting that AI replacement by itself does not justify dismissal. Similarly, a separate ruling in Beijing in December 2025 concluded that a company's adoption of AI was a business decision rather than an unavoidable circumstance, determining that firms must retrain or reassign workers prior to layoffs.

      In January 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced accelerated efforts to create a monitoring system for AI's impact on employment, alongside the development of a policy addressing AI's effects on the labor market, according to state media.

      Balancing ambition with stability remains a challenge for the government, which has reportedly warned employers, particularly within the tech sector, against openly conducting layoffs. Companies that can demonstrate productivity gains from AI while retaining their workforce are more likely to be viewed favorably by regulators and state media.

      Structurally, the challenge is significant. The Stanford AI Index 2026 noted that China has reduced the performance gap with the U.S. in AI to just 2.7% while investing 23 times less in the private sector. However, the pace of job creation attributed to AI lags behind the rate of job losses, exacerbating persistent youth unemployment and raising the stakes of any miscalculated balance.

      Founded in 1949 alongside the establishment of the People’s Republic, Workers’ Daily has historically acted as a channel for the party to convey labor policy priorities. Its ongoing editorial series on AI protections indicates that Beijing is likely preparing a more extensive regulatory framework to address the employment impacts of AI.

      This approach contrasts sharply with the laissez-faire tactics seen in the United States and much of Europe. The fundamental question remains whether China can sustain its rapid AI adoption while genuinely safeguarding the workers affected by it. The courts and labor union publications have set forth a clear rhetorical stance, and the critical next step is effective enforcement.