The International Conference on "Changes in Labor and Employment in China" was held at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relation (the IRL School) in Ithaca, New York, USA, on September 26-28, 2008. It was attended by nearly 70 scholars and doctoral students from the U.S., Chinese mainland, the U.K., Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China’s Taiwan Region, and selected international institutions. The conference was initiated and chaired by Prof. Sarosh Kuruvilla of UConn's School of Industrial and Labor Relation, Prof. Mary Gallagher of the University of Michigan, and Prof. Jingjun Li of the University of California, Los Angeles, and Prof. Harry Katz, Dean of UConn's School of Industrial and Labor Relation. The conference was hosted by Prof. Yanhua Zhao of the University of California, Los Angeles, who gave a welcome speech.

The conference involves various topics, including labor market and institutions, labor, labor unions and social movements, and industrial labor relations, immigration and national protection, corporate social responsibility, labor contract law, labor unions, enterprises, and human resource management, among others. Scholars from the Chinese mainland participating in the conference include Professor Dong Baohua of the East China University of Political Science and Law, Professor Shen Yuan of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tsinghua University, and Associate Professor Qiao Jian, Director of the School of Labor Relations and Human Resources at CULR.

Associate Professor Qiao Jian was invited to present a keynote speech on "Characteristics and Adjustment Mode of Labor Relations in China". He proposed that the coordination system of labor relations in China is based on a labor policy that emphasizes the protection of workers' rights and interests through state legislation and policies, complemented by the exercise of workers' right to self-solidarity. Qiao Jian suggested that the development prospect of the labor relations system in China is expected to shift from state intervention to the autonomy of employers and employees. The conference concluded with a discussion between Qiao Jian and Professors Katz and Kuruvilla about enhancing the exchange and collaboration of labor relations teaching and research between the two universities.

(School of Labor Relations and Human Resources)