Published by ChinaMNC · Lixia

China Safety Production Campaign: What Foreign Founders Operating in China Need to Know

A State Council video conference on workplace safety signals tighter enforcement on outsourcing, contractor management, and equipment upgrades — practical considerations for foreign-invested companies operating in China.

State Council Signals Tougher Workplace Safety Enforcement

On September 28, the State Council convened a national video conference on workplace safety (安全生产). Premier Li Qiang delivered a speech at the meeting, which was reported by Xinhua. For foreign founders who have registered a company in China or are preparing to, the session is a useful signal of where regulators are focusing enforcement attention in the months ahead — particularly for companies that rely on outsourced labor, contractors, or older equipment.

The meeting framed safety as integral to high-quality development, and the language used by the Premier suggests that authorities see recent serious accidents as a reason for heightened vigilance rather than relaxed oversight.

Why the Meeting Matters for Foreign-Invested Enterprises

The Premier noted that a number of serious and major production safety accidents have occurred in various localities recently, causing serious losses to people's lives and property, and said this must prompt a high degree of vigilance. He described the safety situation as severe and complex, and called for a stronger sense of responsibility and urgency.

He specifically identified several problems that need to be tackled with greater effort:

• Rules and regulations not being implemented thoroughly
• Chaos and disorder in outsourcing management
• Lax safety supervision and law enforcement

For foreign founders, the emphasis on outsourcing management is especially relevant. Many foreign-invested companies in China use third-party labor dispatch, contracted production, or external maintenance teams. The meeting's language suggests that companies will be expected to know who is working on their sites and under what arrangements.

Where Enforcement Attention Is Directed

High-risk scenarios and fire prevention

The Premier called for close prevention of fire accidents, stronger safety management of mixed-use production and business premises, strict regulation of outsourcing, and a crackdown on illegal subcontracting and re-subcontracting. He also expressed support for companies building up their own skilled technical workforce — a point worth noting for founders who currently depend heavily on external labor.

Key industries named

The meeting identified a set of priority sectors and activities:

• Implementation of the "eight hard measures" for mine safety
• Full-chain safety supervision of fireworks and firecrackers
• Special rectification of shipbuilding enterprises along the coast and rivers
• Enhanced tourism and traffic safety management around the National Day holiday
• Accident prevention in hazardous chemicals, industry and trade, and construction

Foreign founders in manufacturing, logistics, chemicals, or construction-related activities should treat these as areas where inspections and documentation requirements may intensify.

Hazard identification and closed-loop rectification

The Premier stressed improving the quality and effectiveness of risk and hazard screening and rectification. Specific measures mentioned included putting the criteria for determining major accident hazards into practice, strengthening the closed-loop process of rectifying and closing out hazards, and improving the capacity to identify and address hazards early.

In practical terms, this points to documented inspection routines, clear records of corrective actions, and evidence that identified problems were resolved — not merely noted.

Stricter supervision and enforcement

The meeting called for stricter safety supervision and law enforcement, more effective oversight, stronger deterrence, and better use of assessment and inspection as a "sharp sword." It also called for comprehensively raising enterprise safety standards, accelerating the retirement of old equipment and technical upgrades, and pushing companies to improve their safety management systems. Central and state-owned enterprises were told to take the lead.

Responsibility: Land, Department, and Enterprise

The Premier emphasized strengthening territorial management, departmental supervision, and enterprise primary responsibility. He referenced the established principles of shared party-government responsibility, dual responsibility for each post, coordinated management, and accountability for dereliction of duty, as well as the "three musts" principle for safety management and the rule that whoever is in charge is responsible.

Enterprises were urged to push safety responsibilities and measures down to specific scenarios, specific positions, and specific people. The meeting also called for stronger social coordination, wider dissemination of safety laws, regulations, and knowledge, and cultivation of a safety culture.

Disaster Prevention and Response

The meeting also addressed disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief, calling for stronger monitoring and early warning, hazard screening, duty rosters, improved emergency plans, and timely, efficient, and scientific handling of disasters to minimize losses.

Who Attended

Zhang Guoqing chaired the meeting, with Wang Xiaohong and Wu Zhenglong also present. Responsible officials from relevant central and state organs, member units of the State Council Work Safety Committee, and some central enterprises attended at the main venue. Principal officials of provincial-level governments and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps attended at branch venues. Participants watched a warning film on typical safety problems and hazards, and officials from the Ministry of Emergency Management, SASAC, the Fujian provincial government, and the Shandong provincial government spoke.

Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

• Review your outsourcing arrangements. Confirm that contractors and labor suppliers are properly qualified and that subcontracting is documented and lawful.
• Document your safety management system. Ensure responsibilities are assigned to named positions and specific work scenarios.
• Audit older equipment. Plan for retirement or upgrading of aging assets in line with the call for technical transformation.
• Prepare for inspections. Maintain records showing hazards were identified, corrected, and closed out.
• Watch holiday periods. Traffic, tourism, and travel safety management receives particular attention around major holidays such as National Day.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.