Employees work on the photovoltaic component production line of a technology company in Hai'an, Jiangsu province. (ZHAI HUIYONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)
China has once again shown its firm opposition to forced labor by taking the initiative to ratify two conventions of the International Labour Organization, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Thursday.
The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, ratified the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957, at its 34th session, which concluded on Wednesday.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting workers' rights, and is active, serious and responsible in ratifying ILO conventions, Wang told a daily news conference, adding that China has effectively implemented other ILO conventions that it had ratified.
ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said, "The move demonstrates China's strong support for ILO values and reflects its commitment to protecting any female or male workers from being trapped into forced labor practices."
In another development, Wang said the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States shows the "hypocrisy" of the US government. "The fate of Assange has shown that it's heroic to reveal the 'atrocities' of other countries, while it's criminal to disclose the scandals of the US," Wang said.
wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn