Labor relations are one of the most basic and important social relationships. Whether labor relations are harmonious is related to the vital interests of the vast number of workers and enterprises, as well as to economic development and social harmony. As a bridge and link between the Party and the masses of workers, trade unions must play an important role in building harmonious labor relations. The work of trade unions is a regular and fundamental work of party governance and state administration. Guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the working class and trade union work, as well as the construction of harmonious labor relations, the Institute of Labor Relations and Trade Unions integrates advantages in relevant disciplines and research resources, focusing on labor relations and providing policy advice in the field of trade union as a new type of university think tank.

To serve trade unions and society, the Institute of Labor Relations and Trade Unions is committed to serving the construction of harmonious labor relations, serving the reform of high-quality trade union cadres and industrial workers, and serving the country's economic and social development. Currently, it mainly focuses on the construction of harmonious labor relations, the reform of industrial worker teams, and innovation in trade unions, forming a multidisciplinary research team. It is supported by school-level research institutions such as the Research Institute of Grand Craftsmen and Labor Models, the Institute of Contemporary Labor Movement, the Chinese Workers' Public Opinion Research Institute, and the Belt and Road Labor Relations Institute.

Under the direct concern and support of the Party Committee and the Secretariat of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the Institute of Labor Relations and Trade Unions was officially established on December 28, 2016. The institute operates under a director responsibility system led by a board of directors. Its goal is to become a high-end think tank that serves the decision-making needs of the CPC and the nation, as well as the work of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and trade unions. By innovating mechanisms and systems and integrating various resources, the institute aims to lead research and practice innovations in the fields of labor relations and trade unions.