Five taxi drivers in Beijing have won a lawsuit against their employer for breaching the labour code. The drivers sued their taxi company for failing to pay them the legal minimum wage (RMB 435 yuan a month), and allow them rest days. The company management defended its practice by arguing that the drivers were not employees but sub-contractors of the firm.

On 5 February, 2002, the Beijing's Haidin District People's Court ruled that the taxi drivers were employees of the taxi company and ordered the employer to abide by the Labour Law. This case marked the first ever successful labour litigation won by taxi drivers against their employers in China.

(Source: China's news agencies)

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Online: 2002-02-06