LAWOFTHEPEOPLE′SREPUBLICOFCHINAONEMPLOYMENTCONTRACTSAdoptedatthe28thSessionoftheStandingCommitteeofthe10thNationalPeople′sCongressonJune29，2021EffectivefromJanuary1，2021CHAPTER1GENERALPROVISIONSArticle1ThisLawhasbeenformulatedinordertoimprovetheemploymentcontractsystem，tospecifytherightsandobligationsofthepartiestoemploymentcontracts，toprotectthelawfulrightsandinterestsofEmployeesandtobuildanddevelopharmoniousandstableemploymentrelationships.Article2ThisLawgovernstheestablishmentofemploymentrelationshipsbetween，andtheconclusion，performance，amendment，terminationandendingofemploymentcontractsby，organizationssuchasenterprises，individualeconomicorganizationsandprivatenon-enterpriseunitsinthePeople'sRepublicofChina（“Employers”）ontheonehandandEmployeesinthePeople'sRepublicofChinaontheotherhand.Theconclusion，performance，amendment，terminationandendingofemploymentcontractsbystateauthorities，institutionsorsocialorganizationsontheonehandandEmployeeswithwhomtheyestablishemploymentrelationshipsontheotherhand，shallbehandledpursuanttothisLaw.Article3Theconclusionofemploymentcontractsshallcomplywiththeprinciplesoflawfulness，fairness，equality，freewill，negotiatedconsensusandgoodfaith.Alawfullyconcludedemploymentcontractisbinding，andboththeEmployerandtheEmployeeshallperformtheirrespectiveobligationsstipulatedtherein.Article4Employersshallestablishandimproveinternalrulesandregulations，soastoensurethatEmployeesenjoytheirlaborrightsandperformtheirlaborobligations.WhenanEmployerformulates，revisesordecidesonrulesandregulations，ormaterialmatters，thathaveadirectbearingontheimmediateinterestsofitsEmployees，suchasthoseconcerningcompensation，workhours，rest，leave，worksafetyandhygiene，insurance，benefits，employeetraining，workdisciplineorworkquotamanagement，thesameshallbediscussedbytheemployeerepresentativecongressoralltheemployees.Theemployeerepresentativecongressoralltheemployees，asthecasemaybe，shallputforwardaproposalandcomments，whereuponthemattershallbedeterminedthroughconsultationswiththeTradeunionoremployeerepresentativesconductedonabasisofequality.If，duringtheimplementationofanEmployer'sruleorregulationordecisiononacrucialmatter，theTradeunionoranemployeeisoftheopinionthatthesameisinappropriate，itorheisentitledtocommunicatesuchopiniontotheEmployer，andtherule，regulationordecisionshallbeimprovedbymakingamendmentsafterconsultations.Rulesandregulations，anddecisionsonmaterialmatters，thathaveadirectbearingontheimmediateinterestsofEmployeesshallbemadepublicorbecommunicatedtotheEmployeesbytheEmployer.Article5ThelaboradministrationauthoritiesofPeople'sGovernmentsatthecountylevelandabove，togetherwiththeTradeunionandenterpriserepresentatives，shallestablishacomprehensivetri-partitemechanismforthecoordinationofemploymentrelationships，inordertojointlystudyandresolvemajorissuesconcerningemploymentrelationships.Article6ATradeunionshallassistandguideEmployeesintheconclusionofemploymentcontractswiththeirEmployerandtheperformancethereofinaccordancewiththelaw，andestablishacollectivebargainingmechanismwiththeEmployerinordertosafeguardthelawfulrightsandinterestsofEmployees.CHAPTER2CONCLUSIONOFEMPLOYMENTCONTRACTSArticle7AnEmployer'semploymentrelationshipwithaEmployeeisestablishedonthedateitstartsusingtheEmployee.AnEmployershallkeeparegisterofemployees，forreferencepurposes.Article8WhenanEmployerhiresaEmployee，itshalltruthfullyinformhimastothecontentofthework，theworkingconditions，theplaceofwork，occupationalhazards，productionsafetyconditions，laborcompensationandothermatterswhichtheEmployeerequeststobeinformedabout.TheEmployerhastherighttolearnfromtheEmployeebasicinformationwhichdirectlyrelatestotheemploymentcontract，andtheEmployeeshalltruthfullyprovidethesame.Article9WhenhiringaEmployee，anEmployermaynotretaintheEmployee'sresidentIDcardorotherpapers，normayitrequirehimtoprovidesecurityorcollectpropertyfromhimundersomeotherguise.Article10Toestablishanemploymentrelationship，awrittenemploymentcontractshallbeconcluded.Intheeventthatnowrittenemploymentcontractwasconcludedatthetimeofestablishmentofanemploymentrelationship，awrittenemploymentcontractshallbeconcludedwithinonemonthafterthedateonwhichtheEmployerstartsusingtheEmployee.WhereanEmployerandaEmployeeconcludeanemploymentcontractbeforetheEmployerstartsusingtheEmployee，theemploymentrelationshipshallbeestablishedonthedateonwhichtheEmployerstartsusingtheEmployee.Article11IntheeventthatanEmployerfailstoconcludeawrittenemploymentcontractwithaEmployeeatthetimeitsstartstousehim，anditisnotclearwhatlaborcompensationwasagreeduponwiththeEmployee，thelaborcompensationofthenewEmployeeshallbedecidedpursuanttotheratespecifiedinthecollectivecontract；wherethereisnocollectivecontractorthecollectivecontractissilentonthematter，equalpayshallbegivenforequalwork.Article12Employmentcontractsaredividedintofixed-termemploymentcontracts，open-endedemploymentcontractsandemploymentcontractstoexpireuponcompletionofacertainjob.Article13A“fixed-termemploymentcontract”isanemploymentcontractwhoseendingdateisagreeduponbytheEmployerandtheEmployee.AnEmployerandaEmployeemayconcludeafixed-termemploymentcontractuponreachinganegotiatedconsensus.Article14An“open-endedemploymentcontract”isanemploymentcontractforwhichtheEmployerandtheEmployeehaveagreednottostipulateadefiniteendingdate.AnEmployerandaEmployeemayconcludeanopen-endedemploymentcontractuponreachinganegotiatedconsensus.IfaEmployeeproposesoragreestorenewhisemploymentcontractortoconcludeanemploymentcontractinanyofthefollowingcircumstances，anopen-endedemploymentcontractshallbeconcluded，unlesstheEmployeerequeststheconclusionofafixed-termemploymentcontract：（1）TheEmployeehasbeenworkingfortheEmployerforaconsecutiveperiodofnotlessthan10years；（2）whenhisEmployerintroducestheemploymentcontractsystemorthestateownedenterprisethatemployshimre-concludesitsemploymentcontractsasaresultofrestructuring，theEmployeehasbeenworkingfortheEmployerforaconsecutiveperiodofnotlessthan10yearsandislessthan10yearsawayfromhislegalretirementage；or（3）priortotherenewal，afixed-termemploymentcontractwasconcludedontwoconsecutiveoccasionsandtheEmployeeisnotcharacterizedbyanyofthecircumstancessetforthinArticle39anditems（1）and（2）ofArticle40hereof.IfanEmployerfailstoconcludeawrittenemploymentcontractwithaEmployeewithinoneyearfromthedateonwhichitstartsusingtheEmployee，theEmployerandtheEmployeeshallbedeemedtohaveconcludedanopen-endedemploymentcontract.Article15An“employmentcontractwithatermtoexpireuponcompletionofacertainjob”isanemploymentcontractinwhichtheEmployerandtheEmployeehaveagreedthatthecompletionofacertainjobisthetermofthecontract.AnEmployerandaEmployeemay，uponreachinganegotiatedconsensus，concludeanemploymentcontractwithatermtoexpireuponcompletionofacertainjob.Article16AnemploymentcontractshallbecomeeffectivewhentheEmployerandtheEmployeehavereachedanegotiatedconsensusthereonandeachofthemhassignedorsealedthetextofsuchcontract.TheEmployerandtheEmployeeshalleachholdonecopyoftheemploymentcontract.Article17Anemploymentcontractshallspecifythefollowingmatters：（1）Thename，domicileandlegalrepresentativeormainpersoninchargeoftheEmployer；（2）Thename，domicileandnumberoftheresidentIDcardorothervalididentitydocumentoftheEmployee；（3）Thetermoftheemploymentcontract；（4）Thejobdescriptionandtheplaceofwork；（5）Workinghours，restandleave；（6）Laborcompensation；（7）Socialinsurance；（8）Laborprotection，workingconditionsandprotectionagainstoccupationalhazards；and（9）Othermatterswhichlawsandstatutesrequiretobeincludedinemploymentcontracts.Inadditiontotherequisitetermsmentionedabove，anEmployerandaEmployeemayagreetostipulateothermattersintheemploymentcontract，suchasprobationperiod，training，confidentiality，supplementaryinsuranceandbenefits，etc.Article18Ifadisputearisesduetothefactthattherateorstandardsforlaborcompensationorworkingconditions，etc.arenotexplicitlyspecifiedintheemploymentcontract，theEmployerandtheEmployeemayrenegotiate.Ifthenegotiationsareunsuccessful，theprovisionsofthecollectivecontractshallapply.Ifthereisnocollectivecontractorthecollectivecontractissilentontheissueoflaborcompensation，equalpayshallbegivenforequalwork；ifthereisnocollectivecontractorthecollectivecontractissilentontheissueofworkingconditions，therelevantregulationsofthestateshallapply.Article19Ifanemploymentcontracthasatermofnotlessthanthreemonthsbutlessthanoneyear，theprobationperiodmaynotexceedonemonth；ifanemploymentcontracthasatermofmorethanoneyearandlessthanthreeyears，theprobationperiodmaynotexceedtwomonths；andifanemploymentcontracthasatermofnotlessthanthreeyearsorisopen-ended，theprobationperiodmaynotexceedsixmonths.AnEmployermaystipulateonlyoneprobationperiodwithanygivenEmployee.Noprobationperiodmaybespecifiedinanemploymentcontractwithatermtoexpireuponcompletionofacertainjoboranemploymentcontractwithatermoflessthanthreemonths.Theprobationperiodshallbeincludedinthetermoftheemploymentcontract.Ifanemploymentcontractprovidesforaprobationperiodonly，thenthereisnoprobationperiodandthetermconcernedshallbethetermoftheemploymentcontract.Article20ThewagesofaEmployeeonprobationmaynotbelessthanthelowestwagelevelforthesamejobwiththeEmployerorlessthan80percentofthewageagreeduponintheemploymentcontract，andmaynotbelessthantheminimumwagerateintheplacewheretheEmployerislocated.Article21AnEmployermaynotterminateanemploymentcontractduringtheprobationperiodunlesstheEmployeeischaracterizedbyanyofthecircumstancessetforthinArticle39anditems（1）and（2）ofArticle40hereof.IfanEmployerterminatesanemploymentcontractduringtheprobationperiod，itshallexplainthereasonstotheEmployee.Article22IfanEmployerprovidesspecialfundingforaEmployee'strainingandgiveshimprofessionaltechnicaltraining，itmayconcludeanagreementspecifyingatermofservicewithsuchEmployee.IftheEmployeebreachestheagreementonthetermofservice，heshallpayliquidateddamagestotheEmployerasagreed.ThemeasureoftheliquidateddamagesmaynotexceedthetrainingexpensespaidbytheEmployer.TheliquidateddamagesthattheEmployerrequirestheEmployeetopaymaynotexceedtheportionofthetrainingexpensesallocabletotheunperformedportionofthetermofservice.ThereachingofagreementonatermofservicebetweentheEmployerandtheEmployeedoesnotaffecttheraisingoftheEmployee'slaborcompensationduringthetermofserviceaccordingtothenormalwageadjustmentmechanism.Article23AnEmployerandaEmployeemayincludeintheiremploymentcontractprovisionsonconfidentialitymattersrelatingtomaintainingtheconfidentialityofthetradesecretsoftheEmployerandtointellectualproperty.IfaEmployeehasaconfidentialityobligation，theEmployermayagreewiththeEmployeeoncompetitionrestrictionprovisionsintheemploymentcontractorconfidentialityagreement，andstipulatethattheEmployershallpayfinancialcompensationtotheEmployeeonamonthlybasisduringthetermofthecompetitionrestrictionaftertheterminationorendingoftheemploymentcontract.IftheEmployeebreachesthecompetitionrestrictionprovisions，heshallpayliquidateddamagestotheEmployerasstipulated.Article24ThepersonnelsubjecttocompetitionrestrictionsshallbelimitedtotheEmployer'sseniormanagement，seniortechniciansandotherpersonnelwithaconfidentialityobligation.Thescope，territoryandtermofthecompetitionrestrictionsshallbeagreeduponbytheEmployerandtheEmployee，andsuchagreementshallnotviolatelawsandregulations.Theterm，countedfromtheterminationorendingoftheemploymentcontract，forwhichapersonasmentionedintheprecedingparagraphissubjecttocompetitionrestrictionsintermsofhisworkingforacompetingEmployerthatproducesthesametypeofproductsorisengagedinthesametypeofbusinessashiscurrentEmployer，orintermsofhisestablishinghisownbusinesstoproducethesametypeofproductsorengageinthesametypeofbusiness，shallnotexceedtwoyears.Article25WiththeexceptionofthecircumstancesspecifiedinArticles22and23hereof，anEmployermaynotstipulatewithaEmployeeprovisionsonthebearingofliquidateddamagesbytheEmployee.Article26Anemploymentcontractshallbeinvalidorpartiallyinvalidif：（1）Apartyusessuchmeansasdeceptionorcoercion，ortakesadvantageoftheotherparty'sdifficulties，tocausetheotherpartytoconcludeanemploymentcontract，ortomakeanamendmentthereto，thatiscontrarytothatparty'strueintent；（2）TheEmployerdisclaimsitslegalliabilityordeniestheEmployeehisrights；or（3）Mandatoryprovisionsoflawsoradministrativestatutesareviolated.Iftheinvalidityorpartialinvalidityoftheemploymentcontractisdisputed，itshallbeconfirmedbyalabordisputearbitrationinstitutionoraPeople'sCourt.Article27Ifcertainprovisionsofanemploymentcontractareinvalidandsuchinvaliditydoesnotaffectthevalidityoftheremainingprovisions，theremainingprovisionsshallremainvalid.Article28IfanemploymentcontractisconfirmedasinvalidandtheEmployeehasalreadyperformedlabor，theEmployershallpaytheEmployeelaborcompensation.TheamountoflaborcompensationshallbedeterminedwithreferencetothelaborcompensationofEmployeesinthesameorasimilarpositionwiththeEmployer.CHAPTER3PERFORMANCEANDAMENDMENTOFEMPLOYMENTCONTRACTSArticle29TheEmployerandtheEmployeeshalleachfullyperformits/hisobligationsinaccordancewiththeemploymentcontract.Article30EmployersshallpaytheirEmployeeslaborcompensationontimeandinfullinaccordancewiththeemploymentcontractsandstateregulations.IfanEmployerfallsintoarrearswiththepaymentoflaborcompensationorfailstomakepaymentinfull，theEmployeemay，inaccordancewiththelaw，applytothelocalPeople'sCourtforanordertopay；andthePeople'sCourtshallissuesuchorderinaccordancewiththelaw.Article31EmployersshallstrictlyimplementtheworkquotastandardsandmaynotcompelorinadisguisedmannercompelEmployeestoworkovertime.IfanEmployerarrangesforaEmployeetoworkovertime，itshallpayhimovertimepayinaccordancewiththerelevantstateregulations.Article32EmployeesshallnotbeheldinbreachoftheiremploymentcontractsiftheyrefusetoperformdangerousoperationsthatareinstructedinviolationofregulationsorperemptorilyorderedbymanagementstaffoftheEmployer.Employeeshavetherighttocriticize，reporttotheauthoritiesorlodgeaccusationsagainsttheirEmployersinrespectofworkingconditionsthatendangertheirlivesorhealth.Article33Changessuchachangeinthename，legalrepresentativeormainpersoninchargeof，oran（the）investor（s）in，anEmployershallnotaffecttheperformanceofitsemploymentcontracts.Article34IfanEmployerismergedordivided，etc.，itsexistingemploymentcontractsshallremainvalidandcontinuetobeperformedbytheEmployer（s）whichsucceededtoitsrightsandobligationsArticle35AnEmployerandaEmployeemayamendtheprovisionsoftheiremploymentcontractiftheysoagreeafterconsultations.Amendmentstoanemploymentcontractshallbemadeinwriting.TheEmployerandtheEmployeeshalleachholdonecopyoftheamendedemploymentcontract.CHAPTER4TERMINATIONANDENDINGOFEMPLOYMENTCONTRACTSArticle36AnEmployerandaEmployeemayterminatetheiremploymentcontractiftheysoagreeafterconsultations.Article37AEmployeemayterminatehisemploymentcontractupon30days'priorwrittennoticetohisEmployer.Duringhisprobationperiod，aEmployeemayterminatehisemploymentcontractbygivinghisEmployerthreedays'priornotice.Article38AEmployeemayterminatehisemploymentcontractifhisEmployer：（1）Failstoprovidethelaborprotectionorworkingconditionsspecifiedintheemploymentcontract；（2）Failstopaylaborcompensationinfullandontime；（3）FailstopaythesocialinsurancepremiumsfortheEmployeeinaccordancewiththelaw；（4）Hasrulesandregulationsthatviolatelawsorregulations，therebyharmingtheEmployee'srightsandinterests；（5）causestheemploymentcontracttobeinvalidduetoacircumstancespecifiedinthefirstparagraphofArticle26hereof；（6）GivesrisetoanothercircumstanceinwhichlawsoradministrativestatutespermitaEmployeetoterminatehisemploymentcontract.IfanEmployerusesviolence，threatsorunlawfulrestrictionofpersonalfreedomtocompelaEmployeetowork，orifaEmployeeisinstructedinviolationofrulesandregulationsorperemptorilyorderedbyhisEmployertoperformdangerousoperationswhichthreatenhispersonalsafety，theEmployeemayterminatehisemploymentcontractforthwithwithoutgivingpriornoticetotheEmployer.Article39AnEmployermayterminateanemploymentcontractiftheEmployee：（1）Isprovedduringtheprobationperiodnottosatisfytheconditionsforemployment；（2）MateriallybreachestheEmployer'srulesandregulations；（3）Commitsseriousderelictionofdutyorpracticesgraft，causingsubstantialdamagetotheEmployer；（4）hasadditionallyestablishedanemploymentrelationshipwithanotherEmployerwhichmateriallyaffectsthecompletionofhistaskswiththefirst-mentionedEmployer，orherefusestorectifythematterafterthesameisbroughttohisattentionbytheEmployer；（5）causestheemploymentcontracttobeinvalidduetothecircumstancespecifiedinitem（1）ofthefirstparagraphofArticle26hereof；or（6）Hashiscriminalliabilitypursuedinaccordancewiththelaw.Article40AnEmployermayterminateanemploymentcontractbygivingtheEmployeehimself30days'priorwrittennotice，oronemonth'swageinlieuofnotice，if：（1）afterthesetperiodofmedicalcareforanillnessornon-work-relatedinjury，theEmployeecanengageneitherinhisoriginalworknorinotherworkarrangedforhimbyhisEmployer；（2）TheEmployeeisincompetentandremainsincompetentaftertrainingoradjustmentofhisposition；or（3）Amajorchangeintheobjectivecircumstancesrelieduponatthetimeofconclusionoftheemploymentcontractrendersitunperformableand，afterconsultations，theEmployerandEmployeeareunabletoreachagreementonamendingtheemploymentcontract.Article41Ifanyofthefollowingcircumstancesmakesitnecessarytoreducetheworkforceby20personsormoreorbyanumberofpersonsthatislessthan20butaccountsfor10percentormoreofthetotalnumberoftheenterprise'semployees，theEmployermayreducetheworkforceafterithasexplainedthecircumstancestoitsTradeunionortoallofitsemployees30daysinadvance，hasconsideredtheopinionsoftheTradeunionortheemployeesandhassubsequentlyreportedtheworkforcereductionplantothelaboradministrationdepartment：（1）RestructuringpursuanttotheEnterpriseBankruptcyLaw；（2）Seriousdifficultiesinproductionand/orbusinessoperations；（3）Theenterpriseswitchesproduction，introducesamajortechnologicalinnovationorrevisesitsbusinessmethod，and，afteramendmentofemploymentcontracts，stillneedstoreduceitsworkforce；or（4）Anothermajorchangeintheobjectiveeconomiccircumstancesrelieduponatthetimeofconclusionoftheemploymentcontracts，renderingthemunperformable.Whenreducingtheworkforce，theEmployershallretainwithprioritypersons：（1）WhohaveconcludedwiththeEmployerfixed-termemploymentcontractswitharelativelylongterm；（2）Whohaveconcludedopen-endedemploymentcontractswiththeEmployer；or（3）Whoaretheonlyonesintheirfamiliestobeemployedandwhosefamilieshaveanelderlypersonoraminorforwhomtheyneedtoprovide.IfanEmployerthathasreduceditsworkforcepursuanttothefirstparagraphhereofhiresagainwithinsixmonths，itshallgivenoticetothepersonsdismissedatthetimeofthereductionand，allthingsbeingequal，hirethemonapreferentialbasis.Article42AnEmployermaynotterminateanemploymentcontractpursuanttoArticle40orArticle41hereofiftheEmployee：（1）isengagedinoperationsexposinghimtooccupationaldiseasehazardsandhasnotundergoneapre-departureoccupationalhealthcheck-up，orissuspectedofhavingcontractedanoccupationaldiseaseandisbeingdiagnosedorundermedicalobservation；（2）Hasbeenconfirmedashavinglostorpartiallylosthiscapacitytoworkduetoanoccupationaldiseasecontractedorawork-relatedinjurysustainedwiththeEmployer；（3）Hascontractedanillnessorsustainedanon-work-relatedinjury，andthesetperiodofmedicalcarethereforehasnotexpired；（4）Isafemaleemployeeinherpregnancy，confinementornursingperiod；（5）HasbeenworkingfortheEmployercontinuouslyfornotlessthan15yearsandislessthan5yearsawayfromhislegalretirementage；（6）Findshimselfinothercircumstancesstipulatedinlawsoradministrativestatutes.Article43WhenanEmployeristoterminateanemploymentcontractunilaterally，itshallgivetheTradeunionadvancenoticeofthereasontherefore.IftheEmployerviolateslaws，administrativestatutesortheemploymentcontract，theTradeunionhastherighttodemandthattheEmployerrectifythematter.TheEmployershallstudytheTradeunion'sopinionsandnotifytheTradeunioninwritingastotheoutcomeofitshandlingofthematter.Article44Anemploymentcontractshallendif：（1）Itstermexpires；（2）TheEmployeehascommenceddrawinghisbasicoldageinsurancepensioninaccordancewiththelaw；（3）TheEmployeedies，orisdeclareddeadormissingbyaPeople'sCourt；（4）TheEmployerisdeclaredbankrupt；（5）TheEmployerhasitsbusinesslicenserevoked，isorderedtocloseoriscloseddown，ortheEmployerdecidesonearlyliquidation；or（6）Anothercircumstancespecifiedinlawsoradministrativestatutesarises.Article45IfanemploymentcontractexpiresandanyofthecircumstancesspecifiedinArticle42hereofapplies，thetermoftheemploymentcontractshallbeextendeduntiltherelevantcircumstanceceasestoexist，atwhichpointthecontractshallend.However，mattersrelatingtotheendingoftheemploymentcontractofaEmployeewhohaslostorpartiallylosthiscapacitytoworkasspecifiedinitem（2）ofArticle42hereofshallbehandledinaccordancewithstateregulationsonwork-relatedinjuryinsurance.Article46Inanyofthefollowingcircumstances，theEmployershallpaytheEmployeeseverancepay：（1）TheemploymentcontractisterminatedbytheEmployeepursuanttoArticle38hereof；（2）TheemploymentcontractisterminatedaftersuchterminationwasproposedtotheEmployeebytheEmployerpursuanttoArticle36hereofandthepartiesreachedagreementthereonafterconsultations；（3）TheemploymentcontractisterminatedbytheEmployerpursuanttoArticle40hereof；（4）TheemploymentcontractisterminatedbytheEmployerpursuanttothefirstparagraphofArticle41hereof；（5）Theemploymentcontractisafixed–termcontractthatendspursuanttoitem（1）ofArticle44hereof，unlesstheEmployeedoesnotagreetorenewthecontracteventhoughtheconditionsofferedbytheEmployerarethesameasorbetterthanthosestipulatedinthecurrentcontract；（6）Theemploymentcontractendspursuanttoitem（4）or（5）ofArticle44hereof；（7）Othercircumstancesspecifiedinlawsoradministrativestatutes.Article47AEmployeeshallbepaidseverancepaybasedonthenumberofyearsworkedwiththeEmployerattherateofonemonth'swageforeachfullyearworked.Anyperiodofnotlessthansixmonthsbutlessthanoneyearshallbecountedasoneyear.TheseverancepaypayabletoaEmployeeforanyperiodoflessthansixmonthsshallbeone-halfofhismonthlywages.IfthemonthlywageofaEmployeeisgreaterthanthreetimestheaveragemonthlywageofemployeesintheEmployer'sareaaspublishedbythePeople'sGovernmentatthelevelofmunicipalitydirectlyunderthecentralgovernmentormunicipalitydividedintodistrictsofthearea1wheretheEmployerislocated，theratefortheseverancepaypaidtohimshallbethreetimestheaveragemonthlywageofemployeesandshallbefornotmorethan12yearsofwork.ForthepurposesofthisArticle，theterm“monthlywage”meanstheEmployee'saveragemonthlywageforthe12monthspriortotheterminationorendingofhisemploymentcontract.Article48IfanEmployerterminatesorendsanemploymentcontractinviolationofthisLawandtheEmployeedemandscontinuedperformanceofsuchcontract，theEmployershallcontinueperformingthesame.IftheEmployeedoesnotdemandcontinuedperformanceoftheemploymentcontractorifcontinuedperformanceoftheemploymentcontracthasbecomeimpossible，theEmployershallpaydamagespursuanttoArticle87hereof.Article49ThestatewilltakemeasurestoestablishacomprehensivesystemthatenablesEmployees'socialinsuranceaccountstobetransferredfromoneregiontoanotherandtobecontinuedinsuchotherregion.Article50Atthetimeofterminationorendingofanemploymentcontract，theEmployershallissueaproofofterminationorendingoftheemploymentcontractand，within15days，carryouttheproceduresforthetransferoftheEmployee'sfileandsocialinsurancea