Call for Experts: Human Resources in China

The EU SME Centre is looking for an expert to produce a new report in the field of human resources and labour regulations in China. We are particularly interested in the following areas:

• Updated summary of the main HR and labour-related laws and regulations in China, especially for items concerning EU companies operating in/with China;
• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on China’s labour market, particularly in the new expectations and needs of Chinese employees (e.g. smart working, fringe benefits, etc.) that European SMEs should be aware of during their hiring process;
• Reflections and considerations on corporate structuring for EU SMEs in China. Case studies (anonymised if needed) would be a very strong asset;
• Overview of labour costs and salaries when hiring Chinese and foreign citizens in China, as well as obligations on the part of the employer;
• Main opportunities and challenges that EU companies, especially SMEs, face in hiring, growing and retaining staff in China;
• Recommendations, guidelines and tips for hiring personnel (e.g. non-disclosure agreements, IP protection, contract structure, etc) and terminating contracts;
• New ideas/suggestions are welcome.

Over the years, the Centre has developed many resources in this field. However, most of these resources are now in need of an update. The new report should provide a comprehensive update, in a concise and practical way. We are not interested in quantity/length but rather in quality insights.

Application Process

Interested experts should send an email with their proposal (maximum 1 page) to alessio.petino@eusmecentre.org.cn. Questions may also be sent to this email address.

The proposal must include:

• Tentative structure of the report, clearly indicating which of the above areas will be covered, and eventually proposing new topics
• Short bio of the author(s), including relevant experience in the field
• A quotation of workdays and fees required

Note: we expect the report to be concise and practical, focusing on the most concerning issues for EU SMEs, and sharing insights on how best to approach these issues. We estimate a length of around 20-25 pages, for a workload of 10-14 working days – but we are happy to hear your proposals and suggestions.

Timeline

A first draft of the report must be submitted to the EU SME Centre before the end of August 2023 (but there is some degree of flexibility). Changes and modifications may be requested after review and feedback from the EU SME Centre. We expect the final version of the report to be published by the end of September 2023.