Twice in one week, 13 workers have been killed in major explosions at Chinese industrial plants. At least 13 people were killed and another 43 injured in an explosion at a chemical factory near the northern city of Shijiazhuang on 28 February, the official Xinhua news agency reported. This follows the death of 13 workers, with another 17 injured, in an explosion at Angang Heavy Machinery, partly owned by the Anshan Iron and Steel Group, one of the three largest steel producers in China, on 20 February.

Shanghai will raise the minimum wage (最低工资) to 1450 yuan ($230) per month starting April 1, up from 1280 yuan per month, the Evening News reports. The municipal government also plans to raise the low-income subsidy threshold more than 19% to 5160 yuan per year for rural residents living on the city’s periphery, the largest increase since 1993. Both moves come less than a week before the meeting of the National People’s Congress in Beijing, where the country’s widening wealth gap figures to be an important topic. [Original story in Chinese| analysis in English from the China Labour Bulletin]

Workers across China continued to stage strikes and protests at low wages, increased costs, management takeovers and relocations after traditional New Year holiday at the end of January. China Labour Bulletin logged 27 media reports of strikes and protests in February, the vast majority in the industrial/manufacturing and transport sectors. Photograph: Hanzhong Steel strike 14 February 2012.

In this episode, William, Geoff, and Jennifer discuss continued strikes in February, reforms to the taxi sector, the status of women in China, and some proposals currently before the NPC.