On the Relationship Between the Chinese Communist Party and Non-State Enterprises--Translation of CCP Central Committee Policy “Opinions on Improving and Strengthening Party Organization’s Construction in Non-SOEs (Temporary)”

The relationship between Communist Party and State has been the object of substantial work among Chinese and foreign academics.  But perhaps more interesting is the emerging relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and private enterprises operating within the parameters of Chinese socialism.  This presents not merely another facet of law with Chinese characteristics, but also another aspect of the way in which polycentricity has become more naturalized even within the domestic legal orders of strong states.

(Pix (c) Larry Catá Backer 2013)

I have posited that the old boundaries between public and private law have been giving way to new and more complex polychromatic relationships between state and other transnational enterprises, principally those operating in corporate form. (Backer, Larry Catá, "The Structure of Global Law: Fracture, Fluidity, Permeability, and Polycentricity," 17(2) Tilburg Law Review 177-199 (2012). Chinese state and Communist Party authorities have begun to act on this understanding, both in the construction of internal policy and in the development of policy for the effective intervention int he construction of mulch-sourced governance frameworks.Patrick Boehler recently reported that "Beijing has for the first time established an advisory council of multinational heavyweights to help the leadership keep a finger on the pulse of major corporations in vital industries. . . .  The mechanism will gove Bejing a platform to directly lobby influential multinational leaders across different sectors in future trade disputes."  Patrick Boehler, "Beijing Sets Up Multinationals Advisory Body," South China Morning Post, June 7, 2013.

This approach stands in marked contrast to similar efforts to leverage international softy power by Norway. (Backer, Larry Catá, Sovereign Investing and Markets-Based Transnational Legislative Power: The Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund in Global Markets 29 American University International Law Review – (forthcoming 2013)(November 18, 2012). Yet in both cases, the state is seeking to leverage public power through private markets.  In China, as in Norway, that leveraging involves active participation i corporate governance. While the Norwegians pursue this goal through their active shareholder policy, the CCP has deepened their policy of integrating Party work and education within corporate governance.  In this way, state and enterprise are connected seamlessly through the mediating force of the CCP, the way in which the Party stands as the nexus poiint between domestic and foreign policy. (Backer, Larry Catá and Wang, Keren, 'What is China's Dream?' Hu Angang Imagines China in 2020 as the First Internationally Embedded Superpower (February 23, 2013). Consortium for Peace & Ethics Working Paper No. 2013-2). But in the case of enterprise power within globalization, that seamlessness requires recognition of distinct governance spheres, one public and the other private.

I will be writing more about this in the context of the Chinese system in future posts.  In this introduction, I present a translation of a basic document of CCP policy--the “Opinions on Improving and Strengthening Party Organization’s Construction in Non-SOEs (Temporary)” People’s daily 2012 May 25th.

Recently the General Office of CPC Central Committee issued its "Opinions on Improving and Strengthening Party Organ’s Establishment in Non-SOEs (Temporary)" and requested all local CPC office to undertake its conscientious implementation in light of actual conditions. Here is the partial translation of critical information from this document:

中共中央办公厅印发《关于加强和改进 非公有制企业党的建设工作的意见（试行）》
《 人民日报 》（ 2012年05月25日 01 版）


General Office of CPC Central Committee issues “Opinions on Improving and Strengthening Party Organization’s Construction in Non-SOEs (Temporary)” People’s daily 2012 May 25th.

Non-SOEs are important actors in our market economy system with socialist characteristic. Thus in order to perfect our economy system, direct Non-SOEs’ healthy development, encourage economy and social development, improve labor-employer relation, we need to improve Party organ’s presentation in grass-root level and to expand Party’s membership with the people. According to the Constitution of CPC and Company Law of P.R.C., following opinions are provided to improve party organization’s activity in Non-SOEs:

I. The nature and function of Party organizations in Non-Public economy sectors

1. The role of Party organizations

Party Organizations in Non-Public economy sectors are strategic bases for Party’s political presentation and guidance to the general employees.

2. Primary responsibility for the party organ:

1) Promotes party policy and party line. Organize party member study Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng xiaoping Theory and Three Represents Theory. Applies and enforces Scientific Development, Party line into daily work. Educates Party members and employees to obey the law and regulations. Guides and supervises company operated under the law and CSR requirements.
2) Connects employees. Improves and strengthens ideology education. Deeply involves and sincere concerns employees and party members’ interests. Improves the connection between employees and Party though caring and resolving employees’ concerns.
3) Protects everyone’s legitimate rights: be responsive to people’s concerns. Communicates and mediates different party’s interests. Encouraging company and society stabilization though structuring harmony lobar relation.
4)Cultivates advanced Company culture (Beliefs and Value). Establishes Company culture under socialist core value. Organize various culture activities for better working environment.
5) Model worker. Party members should acts as model workers, who set examples for other employees to improve the productivity of the company.
6) Self-discipline. Improves party organization’s institutionalization system by fully appreciating and supporting the works of party discipline agency within the party organ.

II. Establishing and improving Party organization’s leadership system and working mechanism

3. Establishing a complete Stewardship and managing system. Local party committee at county level or above should establish specialized working agency in charge the Non-SOEs’ party organ’s establishment work. If condition allow, party organ at Non-SOE could set up an individual working environment with party discipline inspection agency. If condition not allowed, party organ could affiliate and work with relevant and similar function agency in Non-SOE.

Special Party Committee organs should be established within industrial parks, where Non-SOEs heavily concentrated. Such SPC specialize the party organ establishment works for Non-SOEs located in the industrial park. The regular township and community (township and community is the lowest level social group in China) party organ will responsible for the party organ establishment work under their jurisdiction. Professional trade association or government regulating agency could also responsible for the party organ establishment work.

4. Creating direct communication mechanism. Generally, county level party committee is also responsible for the communication, ideology education, leadership appointments for Non-SOE’s party organ. Higher level party committee will involve in above responsibility for large size Non-SOEs with numerous party members.
Expand the party organ’s presentation and coverage among special groups by inviting people in special groups join the party. Maintain the quality of the party members. By quality, it cites the examples of high level managing staffs, professionals. By special group it also includes migrate workers and investors.

III. Improving the expansion of Party’s organization coverage

5. Setting up clear targets: Works hard to make it possible for having at least one party member in companies where there are more than 50 employees.

6. Inviting ‘Qualified Talents’ join the party. Recreating professionals and managers for the party work. Higher level party committee (above county level) should especially invite investors of large and influential company to join the party.

7. Sending instructors to Non-public economy sectors for future communications. The establishment of the party organ in Non-SOEs could start with establishing Labor Union and CPC Youth league.

IV. Exploring the channels for Party Organizations’ operation

8. Party Organ should gain trusts and supports from the investors of Non-SOE. The operation of Party Organ in Non-SOEs shall concentrate on the company’s interests. On the one hand, party organ organize studies to educate managing staffs understand party line and state law and economy policy. On the other hand, party organ should seek to build communication channel that allow party organ leader involve in critical managing decision process of Non-SOEs. The purpose is to improve party members’ influence over Non-SOEs’ economic activity.

9. Explore new forms of Party activities. Besides the activities prescribed in Party Constitution, we encourage other unified activities. For example, takes advantage of the internet. Hold on-line discussion forum, on-line party schools and open weibo accounts.

V. Concentrating on the selecting Right secretary

10. Provide reliable party secretaries. Party secretary normally created by companies’ internal election. Party should recommend candidates from companies’ managers, party officials, SOE managers, ex-military soldiers or college graduates serving in the rural countryside to win the election for the party secretary. For large size corporation with large number of party members, Party should send professional party workers to a company as deputy party secretary when the major shareholder of the company is the party secretary. When the party secretary, deputy secretary is not the major shareholder of the company, he or she should try to run for the election of the labor union chairman or vice chairman.
Party secretary in Non-Public economy sector should study and promote the party line and policy, implement higher party organization’s decision, improve the development of the company and managing good relation between party and employee of the company.

11. Professionalize Party workers. Utilize modern management technics to professionalize the party workers with reasonable structure and sufficient number of workers. Create professional communication forums for Party workers team to improve their working performance.

12. Improve working performance by participating training sessions. Party secretary must join the training session at least once a year. The annual training time should be longer than three days. The new elected Party secretary should concentrate on the studying of party polices and lines, skills about party history and party work, company management trainings.

13. Rating system and working benefits. Party workers and party secretary in Non-public economy sectors will be judged by the company’s party members based on rating system. These party workers can also access to appropriate party benefits. Moreover, local party organization could recommend qualified party secretaries and party workers to serve in the State legislature bodies, such as local NOC representatives and political consultative conference. Higher Party Organization concerns and support Party secretaries when the secretary lost employment due to insisting on the party principals.

VI. Education and guidance to the investors and shareholders of Non-public economy sectors.

14. Improve the training and education by creating Non-public company shareholder or investor education and training system. Non-public companies’ shareholders shall have education of China’s Communist Party and socialism theories and State law and regulations. Party organization should educate and train party member shareholders or investors obeying CPC policy and rules. For non-public member investor or shareholders, party organizations should guide them pursuing socialism belief.

15. Improving the service to the Non-public economy sectors. Local Party organizations and Party Branch organizations in Non-public economy sectors should frequently contact reputable companies to participate communication forum to learn their opinions to the operation of Party works. Especially during the process of drafting social or economy policies, local Party Organizations should listen to the opinions from the investors of these companies and assit the companies solve the developing issues.

16. Strengthening the organization and guidance works. Non-public economy sector’s party organization construction should be incorporated into the local Party Committee’s general working plan. Party agencies, such as discipline & inspection and united front, should work with the state agencies like commerce and finance. Held promoting events to encourage companies to set up a party branch.

17. Financial support for Non-SOEs’ party organ operation: Higher level party committee could decide to return the membership fees to Non-SOEs’ party organ for supporting their operation.

中共中央办公厅印发《关于加强和改进 非公有制企业党的建设工作的意见（试行）》
《 人民日报 》（ 2012年05月25日 01 版）
新华社北京５月２４日电 中共中央办公厅近日印发了《关于加强和改进非公有制企业党的建设工作的意见（试行）》，并发出通知，要求各地区各部门结合实际认真贯彻执行。《意见》全文如下：


非公有制企业是发展社会主义市场经济的重要力量。加强和改进非公有制企业党的建设工作，是坚持和完善我国基本经济制度、引导非公有制经济健康发展、推动经济社会发展的需要，是加强和创新社会管理、构建和谐劳动关系、促进社会和谐的需要，是增强党的阶级基础、扩大党的群众基础、夯实党的执政基础的需要，是以改革创新精神提高党的基层组织建设科学化水平、全面推进党的建设新的伟大工程的需要。根据党章和公司法等有关法律法规，现就加强和改进非公有制企业党的建设工作提出如下意见。


一、明确非公有制企业党组织的功能定位
１．地位作用。非公有制企业党组织是党在企业中的战斗堡垒，在企业职工群众中发挥政治核心作用，在企业发展中发挥政治引领作用。
２．主要职责。（１）宣传贯彻党的路线方针政策。组织党员深入学习马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论和“三个代表”重要思想，认真贯彻落实科学发展观，宣传贯彻执行党的路线方针政策、上级党组织和本组织的决议，教育党员和职工群众自觉遵守国家法律法规和有关规章制度，引导和监督企业合法经营，自觉履行社会责任。（２）团结凝聚职工群众。加强和改进思想政治工作，密切联系群众，注重人文关怀和心理疏导，主动关心、热忱服务党员和职工群众，帮助解决实际困难，把广大职工群众团结在党组织周围。（３）维护各方合法权益。积极反映群众诉求，畅通和拓宽表达渠道，依法维护职工群众合法权益，协调各方利益关系，及时化解矛盾纠纷，构建和谐劳动关系，促进企业和社会稳定。（４）建设先进企业文化。坚持用社会主义核心价值体系引领企业文化建设，组织开展丰富多彩的企业文化活动，塑造积极向上的企业精神，树立高尚的职业道德，促使企业诚信经营。（５）促进企业健康发展。组织带领党员和职工群众围绕企业发展创先争优，发挥党组织和党员先进模范作用，促进生产经营。（６）加强自身建设。完善组织设置，健全工作制度，推进学习型党组织建设，坚持党的组织生活，做好发展党员和教育、管理、监督、服务工作，充分发挥纪检组织在维护和执行党的纪律中的职能作用，提高党务工作者素质，领导工会、共青团等群众组织，支持和带动群众组织发挥作用，进一步增强党组织的创造力、凝聚力、战斗力。


二、建立健全领导体制和工作机制
３．健全领导机构和管理体系。县以上地方党委一般要有非公有制企业党建工作机构，统筹负责非公有制企业党建工作。具备条件的，可单独为实体工作机构，并内设纪检机构；不具备条件的，可依托或挂靠有关职能部门，做到有人员编制、有经费保障，建立健全沟通协调、督促检查、考核评价等制度。
非公有制企业相对集中的各类开发区（园区），应设立企业党委或综合党委，负责非公有制企业党建工作。对大量分散的规模以下企业，要充分发挥乡镇（街道）、村（社区）党组织作用，实行区域化、网格化管理。对专业性、行业性较强的企业，可依托相关管理部门或行业协会（商会）建立党组织，实行归口管理。
４．建立直接联系工作机制。对规模以上非公有制企业党组织，在不改变党组织隶属关系的情况下，可由县以上地方党委组织部门或非公有制企业党建工作机构直接联系，重点指导党组织领导班子思想政治建设、党组织书记培养选拔和教育培训。对一些社会影响大、党员数量多的大型企业党组织，可改变隶属关系，由县以上党组织直接管理。


三、努力推进党的组织和工作覆盖
５．明确目标要求。加大工作力度，努力实现职工５０人以上的非公有制企业有党员；具备建立党组织条件的企业，实现党的组织覆盖；因条件暂不具备尚未建立党组织的企业，实现党的工作覆盖。
６．扩大组织覆盖。按照保持党员队伍先进性和纯洁性的要求，严格把关，注重质量，加大在非公有制企业生产一线职工、专业技术骨干及经营管理人员中发展党员的工作力度，重视在农民工中发展党员，注意培养发展符合条件的企业出资人入党。企业规模和社会影响较大的出资人，可由县以上党组织做好教育、引导和培养工作，吸收入党时，应征求同级党委统战部门意见。
７．扩大工作覆盖。对未建立党组织的非公有制企业，可通过选派党建工作指导员、确定党建工作联络员、建立工会和共青团组织等方式，积极开展党的工作，推动企业建立党组织.


四、探索党组织和党员发挥作用的有效途径
８．建立双向互动工作机制。按照企业需要、党员欢迎、职工赞成的原则，注意取得非公有制企业出资人理解和支持，把党组织活动与企业生产经营管理紧密结合起来，实现目标同向、互促共进。建立党组织与企业管理层共同学习制度，熟悉党和国家政策法规、了解上级决策部署、沟通企业生产经营情况。探索建立党组织书记参加或列席企业管理层重要会议制度、党组织与企业管理层沟通协商和恳谈制度。党组织要邀请企业出资人、经营管理人员参加相关活动，注重发挥企业管理层中党员和党员工会主席的作用，做好党的工作。
９．探索开展开放式党组织活动。认真落实党的组织生活制度，督促指导非公有制企业党组织按期换届。创新党组织活动方式，除党章规定的党内活动外，提倡党群活动一体化。推动企业党组织与其他单位党组织开展结对共建活动。提倡开设网上党建园地、网上党校、党建微博、网上论坛等，把党的活动阵地拓展到网络上，增强党组织活动的吸引力和影响力。


五、加强以党组织书记为重点的党务工作者队伍建设
１２．选优配强党组织书记。按照守信念、讲奉献、重品行，懂经营、会管理、善协调，记一般从企业内部选举产生，注意从生产、经营、管理骨干中推荐人选，也可从党政机关干部、国有企事业单位经营管理人员、党务工作者和复转军人、大学生“村官”中推荐人选，或面向社会公开招聘党务工作人才，再通过党内选举程序任职。重视选派优秀专职党务工作者担任联合党组织书记。提倡机关优秀年轻党员干部到企业挂职从事党建工作。规模大、党员数量多的企业主要出资人担任党组织书记的，应配备专职副书记。提倡不是企业出资人的党组织书记、副书记通过法定程序兼任工会主席、副主席；也可以由党员工会主席通过法定程序担任党组织书记、副书记。
１３．壮大党务工作者队伍。通过多样化选用、规范化管理、专业化培训、制度化激励等途径和方式，建设一支素质优良、结构合理、数量充足、专兼职结合的非公有制企业党务工作者队伍。重视建立党务工作者人才库。规模大、党员数量多的企业，要配备专职党务工作者。探索设立党建工作论坛，为党务工作者搭建工作交流平台。加强党建工作指导员队伍建设，充分发挥其组织宣传、联系服务、协调指导作用。
１４．提升能力素质。把非公有制企业党务工作者纳入党员干部教育培训总体规划，依托各级党校、行政学院和高校开展培训工作。党务工作者的培训主要由县级党组织负责，市级以上党组织抓好示范培训。党组织书记每年至少参加１次集中培训，累计时间不少于３天。对新任党组织书记要进行任职培训。重点加强党的路线方针政策、党务知识、群众工作、企业生产经营管理等方面的培训，提高做好群众工作本领和服务企业发展能力。有计划地选派优秀党组织书记到党政机关、国有企事业单位挂职学习锻炼。
１５．强化管理和激励。建立健全非公有制企业党组织书记向上级党组织和本单位党员群众报告工作以及述职评议等制度。研究制定符合企业特点的党组织书记综合考核评价办法。推动企业建立健全党组织书记薪酬待遇保障制度，使他们干事有平台、待遇有保障、干好有发展。有条件的地方，上级党组织可给予党组织书记和党务工作者适当的工作津贴。推荐符合条件的党组织书记作为各级党代会代表、人大代表、政协委员人选。建立党组织书记劳动合同变更、解除或终止前向上级党组织备案制度。党组织书记因坚持原则遭受不公正待遇时，上级党组织应及时了解情况，给予帮助和支持。

六、加强对非公有制企业出资人的教育引导
１６．加强教育培训。建立非公有制企业出资人教育培训制度，着力加强中国特色社会主义理论体系、党的知识和国家法律法规教育。对党员出资人，要教育引导他们遵守党规党纪和执行党的决议，自觉履行党员义务，服从党组织的教育、管理和监督。对非党员出资人，要教育引导他们树立中国特色社会主义共同理想，在党的领导下坚定走中国特色
社会主义道路，努力成为中国特色社会主义事业合格建设者。各级党委组织、统战部门要共同抓好企业出资人教育培训工作。
１７．搞好服务管理。各级党委组织部门和非公有制企业党建工作机构可直接联系一批知名度较高、社会反映好的非公有制企业，经常听取他们对加强党建工作的意见建议；有关方面在研究制定相关经济社会发展政策法规时，要注意听取企业出资人意见，帮助企业解决在发展中遇到的难题。对企业出资人的评先选优、政治安排，要事先征求企业党组织和非公有制企业党建工作机构、地方工会组织的意见，党委统战、组织部门要严格审查把关，重点考察其思想政治表现、遵纪守法、道德品质、履行社会责任、支持党建工作等方面情况。对政治方向有偏差、履行社会责任不积极、社会评价不良的企业出资人，要批评教育；对违纪违法的，有关部门和单位要依纪依法进行查处。

七、强化非公有制企业党建工作保障
１８．加强组织领导和工作指导。地方各级党委要把非公有制企业党建工作纳入本地区党的建设总体布局，并作为市、县委书记履行基层党建工作责任制专项述职和相关部门领导班子考核评价的重要内容，建立健全目标管理、定期研究、情况通报、领导干部联系点等制度。党委组织部门要加强统筹协调和工作指导，纪检机关和统战、工商、财政、商务、工商联等部门和单位要结合各自职能，协同做好有关工作。区别不同类型企业，加强分类指导，不断研究新情况，探索解决新问题。采取多种形式，大力宣传非公有制企业党建工作典型，定期评选表彰先进，形成全社会关注、支持非公有制企业党建工作的良好氛围。
１９．加强经费保障。将非公有制企业党组织工作经费纳入企业管理费用，建立并落实税前列支制度。建立党费拨返制度，企业党员交纳的党费可全额返还企业党组织，用于开展党建活动；还可从各级党组织留存党费中，按照一定比例，采取以奖代补等方式，支持非公有制企业党建工作。有条件的地方，可对非公有制企业党建工作给予必要的经费支持。探索采取企业赞助、党员自愿捐助等方式，多渠道解决经费问题。