Employment Strategies in China
E-Learning | Diploma Program
Navigating employment in China demands more than familiarity with local laws. Companies must operate within a system shaped by legal compliance, cultural expectations, regional policy differences, workforce structures, and the tax and social security rules that apply to both Chinese and foreign staff. Missteps can lead to financial risk, reputational damage, or legal disputes, especially as enforcement is influenced not only by national legislation, but also by local interpretation, inspections, and growing expectations around corporate responsibility and ESG.
The Employment Strategies in China Diploma Program is designed to meet these challenges with a practical, strategy-focused approach. It equips HR professionals, managers, compliance teams, global mobility specialists, and business leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to confidently navigate China’s employment environment. Rather than teaching regulations in isolation, the program connects law to practice through case studies, real-world examples, and guidance on contracts, payroll, labor dispatch, tax exposure, and social security obligations.
By the end of the program, participants will understand not just what the rules are, but how to apply them effectively by aligning compliance with business goals and building sustainable employment strategies in the Chinese market.
Who should join?
This program is ideal for anyone responsible for HR management, international assignments, legal compliance, organizational governance, or workforce planning involving China.
100% Online delivery
The program is designed to be completed fully online enabling students to continue working during the program.
Literature
The program covers all literature essential to acquiring the fundamental knowledge for doing business in China and with China-based enterprises.
Duration
The standard duration of the course is 16 weeks based on an average time commitment of 4-5 hours per week.
The Employment Strategies in China Diploma Program includes the following four modules:
Module 1 Labor Law Compliance in China explores China’s labor law landscape with a strong focus on regulatory compliance, ESG expectations, and corporate responsibility across supply chains. Through real-world examples from companies like Apple, Nike, and Adidas, participants learn to align legal obligations with practical risk management and social accountability.
Module 2 Structuring Employment Contracts in China turns to the structure of employment relationships, covering individual, collective, part-time, and dispatched labor arrangements. Participants gain hands-on insight into drafting employment contracts and employment handbooks that reflect both the legal requirements of the PRC Labor Contract Law and the operational realities of international organizations.
Module 3 Payroll, Social Security and Income Tax provides a deep dive into payroll, social security, and individual income tax in China. From mandatory contributions and benchmark calculations to residency rules and the mechanics of the reformed IIT system, this module empowers participants to manage payroll and taxation with precision and full legal compliance.
Module 4 China Secondment: Tax Implications of Cross-border Labor Dispatch addresses the fast-growing area of cross-border labor dispatch and secondment. Participants learn how to structure secondment arrangements, manage corporate and individual tax exposure, leverage double taxation agreements, and mitigate compliance risks across jurisdictions.
Module 1 Labor Law Compliance in China
- Understand how labor laws, diversity expectations, supply chain responsibilities, and community engagement interact within the regulatory system.
- Identify and mitigate social compliance risks across both internal operations and local suppliers, including labor conditions, contract structures, working hours, and audit vulnerabilities.
- Compare ESG standards with Chinese cultural and regulatory realities, ensuring that corporate policies are not only compliant on paper but workable in practice.
- Design inclusive and responsible workforce and supply chain strategies, integrating fair labor practices, diversity initiatives, and responsible sourcing models suited to China’s context.
- Build and sustain social license to operate in China, aligning corporate responsibility efforts with government priorities, community expectations, and reputational considerations.
Module 2 Structuring Employment Contracts
- In this module you will develop a deeper understanding of the different types of employment contracts related to individual, collective and part-time employment.
- Develop in-depth insights into the requirements for conclusion about the different types of employment contracts.
- Learn to translate law and regulations into business practice, utilizing examples of provisions which can be included in individual employment contracts drafted in accordance with the PRC Labor Contract Law.
- Earn insights in the purpose and functioning of employment handbooks.
Module 3 Understanding Payroll, Social Security, and Individual Income Tax
- In this module you will learn how China’s payroll system is designed, and salary is calculated.
- Develop an understanding of China’s social security system is designed, which components exists and how contribution is arranged.
- Gain in-depth insights in how the individual income tax framework is designed, understand the difference between a Resident and Non-Resident Taxpayer, Tax Residency and Taxability of income, and how it exactly impacts taxation borne by the employer and employee.
- Get insight into the different types of income components, how these are taxed, and understand tax deductions under China’s new Individual Income Tax Law.
- Develop a better understanding of the development of current preferential tax policies.
Module 4 China Secondment
- In this course you will develop a deeper understanding about structuring secondment assignments for your employees to China.
- Learn to assess the tax implications for the home entity from where the employee is dispatched, for the China-based entity where the employee will take up a work assignment based on how the business activities are structured in combination with the details of the secondment assignments.
- Develop an understanding of China’s payroll administration, individual income tax and social security systems
- Develop a deeper understanding of the individual income tax implications for employees when working in China as secondee.
- Gain insights into the risks associated with secondment and the means to mitigate these.
- Grasp an understanding of the classification and payment of
By the end of the program, you will have a 360-degree understanding of China’s employment framework, from contracts and compensation to tax structures and cross-border labor deployment. The diploma not only builds technical competence but also strengthens strategic decision-making in one of the world’s most complex and dynamic employment markets.
No specific prior education or knowledge about foreign investment into China is required to be admitted to this program.
Prior completion one or multiple of the following Institute of China Studies’ Certificate Courses results in a pass for the respective module; course Labor Law Compliance in China, course Structuring Employment Contracts in China, course Payroll, Social Security and Income Tax and course China Secondment.
Assessment
Assessment is carried out through a series of written assignments to be completed at the end of each module.
Certificate of Completion
A Certificate of Completion is issued upon the successful completion of the course.
Alumni Association
Students who have successfully completed the program will automatically join ICS’s alumni association and have the opportunity to participate in the China Entrepreneur’s Circle, which forms an important platform for maintaining and gaining new business contacts. Upon completion, you become ambassadors of the program by sharing insights and experiences to new students via public speaking at our networking events, factfinding missions to China, seminars, and webinars.
Tuition fee
Tuition fee for the entire program is EUR 1.495 to be paid in a single installment in advance.
The tuition fee includes all necessary literature and study materials, guidance and support during your studies, free extension of the study duration (if required), and 1:1 contact with your course professor.
Credit
Having completed one of multiple of Institute of China Studies’ Certificate courses included in the program as a standalone course prior to the start of the program might result in credit of the tuition fee. Please contact us for more information.
Start date
Open enrollment applies to this course. You can start this course at a timing of your own convenience.
How we deliver value
Program Completion Benefits
Certificate
Upon successful completion of the course, you will earn a digital certificate of completion from the Institute of China Studies.
Note: After successful completion of the online program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of the Institute of China Studies.
Tailormade literature
To provide detailed information and insights in the topics related to Human Resources Management in China, this program utilizes tailormade literature and reading materials.
Contact us
Would you like more information about the program and the admission requirements? Then request a free study consultation. Of course, free of charge and without obligation. This way you will learn more about the content of the course, the teaching materials, and the online learning environment.
Enroll today
Enroll today and develop essential skills and insights about applicable personnel strategies in China, which can be directly applied in your professional work environment.