What is it about?
This research examines China’s legal working age of 16 through a real-life dilemma involving a 15-year-old dropout. After being abandoned by her family, she was fined for working at a milk tea shop. Although banning child labor aims to protect minors, the study suggests that an overly strict age limit can unintentionally harm vulnerable teenagers who depend on work for survival. By comparing laws in countries such as the U.S. and France, the author proposes a more flexible system that would permit 15- to 16-year-olds who have completed compulsory education to take on light, regulated work. This approach better balances the protection of young people’s health and education with the reality that some adolescents need lawful employment opportunities.
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Why is it important?
This work offers a timely critique of China’s child labor regulations following the 2022 Mixue Bingcheng incident, juxtaposing international standards with domestic law. Its unique value lies in proposing a pragmatic, three-tiered minimum age system to better protect minors’ rights while acknowledging socioeconomic realities, providing crucial legislative insights for developing nations.
Perspectives
From my perspective, researching this topic was profoundly moving. Analyzing the real-life dilemma of the 15-year-old girl in the Mixue Bingcheng case highlighted the critical gap between well-intentioned legislation and the complex realities of vulnerable minors. It reinforced my belief that legal scholarship must remain grounded in human experience to create truly effective and compassionate protections.
Chikei FONG
Renmin University of China
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Legislative Options for the Minimum Age for Employment in China, November 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004749399_009.
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