How to Hire Compliantly in China

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Everything you need to know to hire compliantly in China

Employer of Record (EoR) in China

Employment contracts in China

Payroll and benefits in China

Leave and time off in China

Employee protection in China

End of employment in China

Recent developments in China

We understand the challenges of keeping up with regulatory changes. That’s why we actively monitor these developments, so you don’t have to. Read on to discover what’s been happening in the employment landscape in China.

Continued focus on labour compliance and enforcement (2026)

Chinese labour authorities continue to strengthen enforcement of existing labour laws, with increased inspections around employment contracts, working hours, overtime pay, and social insurance contributions. Employers are expected to ensure full written contracts, accurate payroll records, and strict compliance with statutory benefits.

Ongoing adjustments to local minimum wages (2026)

China does not have a single national minimum wage. Instead, provincial and municipal governments continue to adjust local minimum wage standards annually or biennially. In 2026, several regions are expected to review and increase their minimum monthly and hourly wages in line with cost-of-living changes and regional economic growth. Employers must monitor local regulations closely, as rates can vary significantly between cities.

Refined social insurance contribution bases (2026)

Local governments continue to update minimum and maximum contribution bases for social insurance (pension, medical, unemployment, work injury, and maternity insurance). Adjustments in 2026 affect both employer and employee contribution amounts, particularly in major cities where contribution ceilings are higher.

Further regulation of overtime and working time practices (2026)

Authorities maintain a strong stance against excessive overtime, especially in sectors previously associated with “996” work patterns. Employers are expected to comply with standard working hour systems or properly approved flexible or comprehensive working hour arrangements, with penalties for non-compliance.

Ongoing policy support for talent mobility and high-skilled workers (2026)

China continues to refine policies supporting high-skilled professionals, including streamlined work permit processes, residence facilitation, and incentives in key economic zones. These measures aim to attract foreign expertise while maintaining strict compliance requirements for employers sponsoring foreign employees.

Together, these developments reinforce the importance for employers in China to stay aligned with local labour rules, minimum wage updates, and social insurance obligations, as enforcement and regional differentiation remain central features of the Chinese employment landscape in 2026

Employer of Record in China

Hiring internationally can be both expensive and time-consuming — but it doesn’t have to be.

By hiring workers in China through an Employer of Record (EoR), you can skip the hassle and expense of setting up a legal entity and go straight to growing your business.

Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about using an EoR in China.

Read about EoR in China

Employment contracts in China

If you want to hire workers in China, you need to make sure your employment contracts are compliant and legally enforceable. Thankfully, we have all the information you need — read our guide for the full lowdown on employment contracts in China.

We’ll talk about:

Contract terms

Fixed-term contracts and extensions

Regulations around remote work

Working hours and overtime

Read about employment contracts in China

Payroll & benefits in China

Each country has its own laws, rules and customs when it comes to employee compensation. And if you want your expansion to China to be a success, you need to know what they look like.

That means not only understanding the minimum wage, statutory benefits and employee rights, but also the norms that shape what your employees expect from their employer.

Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about compensation and benefits in China.

Read about payroll and benefits in China

Leave and time off in China

From public holidays to parental leave, you need to understand when your employees have the right to paid time off in China. Read our full guide to find out everything you need to know.

Read about leave and time off in China

Employee protections in China

Employees in China are entitled by law to certain protections — and you need to know about them as an employer. Read our full guide to find out what you can and can’t do as an employer in China.

We’ll cover:

Whistleblower protections

Data privacy

Equal treatment for temporary agency workers

Anti-discrimination laws

Pay equity legislation

Read about employee protections in China

End of employment in China

There are certain things you can and can’t do when an employment comes to an end in China. And as an employer, you need to know about them. Read our full guide to find out what happens when you part ways with a worker.

We’ll cover:

Notice periods

Rules about termination

Post-termination restraints

Transfers of undertaking

Read about end of employment in China

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