On November 25, the conference on "Building Harmonious Labor Relations and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Labor Relations", organized by the Japan International Labour Foundation and hosted by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, was held in Room 509 of Zhiyuan Building at our university. Xu Enyi, inspector of the International Department of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, and Masayuki Shioda, Executive Director of the Japan International Labour Foundation, attended the meeting online. Officials from the Japan International Labour Foundation and the International Department of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, along with leaders from relevant departments of our university, staff members, and student representatives from the School of Labor Relations and Human Resources, totaling more than 40 people, participated in the meeting both online and offline. The conference was chaired by Zhao Ling, researcher from the Cooperation and Development Section of the International Department of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.

At the conference, Director Masayuki Shioda delivered speeches on "Recent Labor Law Reforms in Japan - Countermeasures in Labor Law against COVID-19" and "The Role and Issues of Labor Movements in Japan." He used detailed data and real-time information to introduce the changes in the cumulative number of confirmed cases and deaths of COVID-19 in Japan, analyzed the impact of the epidemic on the Japanese labor market, and systematically explained the main measures taken by the Japanese government to deal with the epidemic crisis, including establishing the "COVID-19 Infectious Disease Response Headquarters," promulgating the "COVID-19 Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan," amending the "Special Measures Law Concerning Countermeasures against New Influenza and Other Diseases," and issuing economic assistance to maintain employment and business operations. Drawing on his academic research results over the years and rich case studies, he introduced the history of the labor movement and economic development in Japan, and analyzed the current situation of Japanese trade unions, including the composition of unions, the number of union members among employed workers, the wage gap between regular and non-regular employees, union membership rates, and union dues standards, as well as the functions and roles of Japanese trade unions.

Associate Professor Guo Yuqiang of our university gave a lecture on "The Role of Chinese Trade Unions in the Epidemic Prevention and Control and the Resumption of Work and Production", using big data to introduce the new challenges faced by the Chinese economy, employment situation, and labor relations under the epidemic. He explained and analyzed the systems and policies formulated by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese trade unions in response to epidemic prevention and control, and for resuming work and production, securing stability in employment, finance, foreign trade, foreign investment, and economic expectations, and guaranteeing people's livelihood, basic living, market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the functions of grassroots governments. He systematically introduced China's experience in epidemic prevention and resumption of work from aspects such as promoting collective consultation, assisting in resumption of work and production, leveraging the exemplary role of model workers and craftsmen, supporting anti-epidemic materials, caring for groups with specific challenges, involving grassroots communities and streets in epidemic prevention and control, providing diverse employment services, and promoting the improvement of workers' quality, sharing important insights on China's adherence to the development thought centered on the people, protecting workers' rights, and establishing a community of shared future between enterprises and employees.

During the exchange session, participants interacted on topics such as the normalization and profound impact of Japan's special labor relations in the post-epidemic period, trends and measures in China's labor relations and production methods, and the future development of the digital economy.

The Japan International Labor Foundation (JILAF) was founded in 1989 with funds from the Labor unions in Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. It is a group specializing in exchanges on international labor relations. Invited by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the organization has visited our university several times to conduct academic exchanges and seminars.

(International Office of Cooperation and Exchange)