Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Tuesday said that building harmonious relations between workers and their employers was an important and urgent political task.

Labor relations have remained generally stable so far, but new problems have emerged which calls for more attention, Xi said when meeting a group of model workers.

Authorities should deal with labor issues based on the principle of "putting people first," and protect employee's interests. A smooth negotiation mechanism between employers and employees should be implemented, he noted.

He also stressed the need to improve the legal system and bridge the wage gap between different groups.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2011)