Last year, the Central Committee of the China Democratic League analyzed the major causes of frequent workplace accidents and attributed a majority of them, particularly the most serious, to human negligence. These accidents not only harmed workers’ health and lives, but also dealt a heavy blow to their families and led to further problems.

To deal with this, the Central Committee of the China Democratic League put forward the proposal entitled Reduce Workplace Accidents, Maintain Social Stability, suggesting the following:

Promoting safety management in production; further improving supervision and management mechanisms for work safety; setting up and standardizing accident accountability systems; setting up an employers’ compensation liability system as soon as possible; implementing a comprehensive workplace injury insurance system.

The State Administration of Work Safety pledged to study and adopt the China Democratic League’s suggestions. To strengthen safety controls, the administration will focus on safety supervision in key regions, industries, enterprises and sites; to regulate accident investigation and handling, it has drawn up the Regulation on Casualty Accident Reporting and Investigation; to give employers greater responsibility. It is studying the establishment of an insurance system against work safety risk and implementation of a casualty compensation system and will spare no effort in publicizing these policies as soon as possible.

(China.org.cn March 11, 2005)