Taking Workers for a Ride

While most people got to have time off with friends and family during the weeklong National Day holiday, some had to work. In accordance with China's Labor Law, companies or organizations that keep employees working during legal holidays must pay the workers overtime salaries. However, it is found that working without overtime pay is still very common countrywide.

Nowadays, job opportunities are rare, so even if workers know it's illegal for the employers to refuse to pay them overtime, they have to bite the bullet or lose their jobs.

Knowing clearly that workers are in an inferior position to safeguard their rights, labor watchdogs have no reason to blame the inefficiency of their work on the lack of complaints. Isn't it necessary for labor officials to get more involved with their work?

Labor departments should never take a laissez-faire attitude toward the overtime issue, as one of the most important government functions is to take action to rectify things like this. These departments must have a strong sense of serving society as a whole. If the law enforcement process can't be effectively guaranteed, no matter how perfect the laws are, ordinary people will never benefit from them.

Market News

Reduced Subway Fare Welcome

After the bus fare cut last winter, since October 7, Beijing's subway fares, which previously ranged from 3 yuan to 5 yuan, have all been cut to 2 yuan. This move makes Beijing's subway fares the cheapest in China.

The subway is a public facility provided by the government. Beijing is now home to over 2 million migrant workers and, despite the country's booming economy, there is still a large low-income group in the capital. The reduced bus and subway fares will help them save on daily expenses.

To offer cheap public facilities and services to the majority is one of the government's basic functions. If they are not cheap, they are no longer "public," and they are not supposed to operate in accordance with market rules.

Although the government will not benefit directly from its practice to offer cheap or even free services, its efforts to meet the basic needs of the disadvantaged now will help to increase financial revenues in the long term.

Some local governments prefer to invest their capital in so-called large-scale economic development and government daily expenses, rather than in public service or welfare. In order for the public to enjoy more cheap public facilities, it's necessary for a shift in the focus of public finance.

Oriental Morning Post

This Gold is Tarnished

China now has three "Golden Week" holidays every year-Spring Festival, Labor Day and National Day. As the world's most populous country, China will see more than 1 billion travels on the move during the three weeks, as the majority of Chinese only have this time in which to take leave. As a result, the transportation, catering and hotel industries are all operating under great pressure, while tourist facilities are characterized by poor service at this time. This is done in the knowledge that there are always more than enough tourists no matter what level of service is provided.

It is also no secret that the sudden surge of tourists to scenic spots that can only accommodate smaller numbers does irreversible damage to the environment and the country's cultural heritage treasures.

Moreover, most hotels that are built to meet the demand of the "Golden Weeks" lie virtually unused during the remainder of the year, which is a large waste of resources.

Given so many problems, it's suggested that these three weeks should be split and added to other festivals throughout the year, as in developed countries, where people can choose freely when to take leave. If this is not done, the damage to the country's environment could be catastrophic as "Golden Week" travelers trample on year after year.

The Beijing News

More Than Just Words

Some universities have recently been busy changing their mottoes, claiming maxims from the distant past fail to reflect the demands of modern society and lack individual meaning.

It is true that many Chinese universities now have quite similar mottoes. However, the fundamental problem is that there is no effective system to ensure these mottoes really help students to work better during their school life.

Harvard's motto is "Veritas," which means "truth;" while the University California-Berkeley's motto is "Let there be light," which would probably be regarded as idealistic in China. However, such mottoes have never become outdated because they are part of the universities' spirit and put effectively into practice.

If Chinese universities focus their attention on changing their mottoes, without solving the root of the problem, no matter how striking the mottoes, they will never be anything more than superficial slogans.

Beijing Youth Daily