China's Premier Orders Stricter Workplace Safety Ahead of Holidays

Chinese Premier Li Qiang addressed a national State Council video conference on workplace safety, directing officials to resolve persistent regulatory vulnerabilities and halt a series of major industrial accidents. Citing recent deadly incidents, Li ordered strict crackdowns on chaotic outsourcing and illegal subcontracting, full implementation of mandatory mine safety measures, and heightened oversight across fireworks, maritime shipping, and hazardous chemicals. The nationwide campaign comes ahead of the National Day travel period, placing heightened scrutiny on tourism and transit safety.

The high-level conference directly addresses administrative and operational failures exposed by recent industrial accidents across China. By spotlighting illegal subcontracting, enforcing strict mine safety requirements, and targeting holiday transport networks, the central leadership is signaling immediate compliance pressure on both local regulatory bodies and commercial operators.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has ordered nationwide efforts to tighten workplace safety and prevent major accidents, addressing a State Council national video conference on September 28, according to state media reports. Li called on authorities across all tiers of government to implement directives from President Xi Jinping, prioritize human life, and consolidate responsibility to safeguard public well-being and overall social stability. Pointing to several deadly workplace accidents that occurred in various localities in recent periods, Li warned that authorities must confront an arduous and complex safety situation with heightened urgency. The Premier identified three recurring structural problems that require immediate remediation: the lax implementation of safety rules and regulations, chaotic and poorly regulated outsourcing practices, and inconsistent or weak regulatory enforcement. High-quality economic development, Li emphasized, must be anchored by high-level safety standards. To curb persistent hazards, Li instructed regulatory authorities to focus on high-risk scenarios. He called for stringent fire prevention, improved management of mixed-use production and business venues, and a decisive crackdown on illegal or unauthorized subcontracting. Li also urged enterprises to strengthen the development of their own permanent, skilled technical workforces rather than relying on uncontrolled layers of outsourced labor. The directives singled out several high-risk sectors for intensified scrutiny. Li instructed officials to advance the implementation of the "eight hard measures" governing mine safety, enforce end-to-end supervision over the fireworks supply chain, conduct special safety inspections targeting coastal and river shipping enterprises, and prevent accidents across hazardous chemicals, manufacturing, and construction. With the upcoming National Day holiday expected to drive surging mobility, Li specifically emphasized the need to reinforce safety management across transport networks and tourist destinations. He ordered regulators to align local operations with national criteria for identifying major accident hazards and maintain a strict closed-loop rectification system to ensure risks are discovered and neutralized promptly.