Administrative Regulations on Foreign Labor Service Cooperation

Order of the State Council No.620

June 4, 2012

The Administrative Regulations on Foreign Labor Service Cooperation have been adopted at the 203rd executive meeting of the State Council on May 16, 2012, which are hereby promulgated and shall come into force as of August 1, 2012.

Premier: Wen Jiabao

Administrative Regulations on Foreign Labor Service Cooperation

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 These Regulations are enacted for the purposes of standardizing foreign labor service cooperation, safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of the workers and facilitating the healthy development of the foreign labor service cooperation.

Article 2 For the purposes of these Regulations, "Foreign Labor Service Cooperation" refers to the operational activity that organizes workers to go to other countries or regions to work for foreign enterprises or institutions (hereafter collectively referred to as "Foreign Employer").
Overseas enterprises, institutions or individuals may not recruit workers within the territory of China to work in foreign countries.

Article 3 Legal development of foreign labor service cooperation, enhancement of foreign labor service cooperation level and protection of lawful rights and interests of workers are encouraged and supported by the State.
The relevant departments of the State Council shall formulate and improve the policies and measures that facilitate the development of foreign labor service cooperation, and establish and perfect the service system, risk prevention and handling mechanism for foreign labor service cooperation.

Article 4 The competent commerce department under the State Council shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of the foreign labor service cooperation in China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Human Resource and Social Security, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the competent fisheries department, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and other relevant departments under the State Council shall, within their own terms of reference, be responsible for the relevant work in the supervision and administration of foreign labor service cooperation.
The local people's governments at the county level or above shall uniformly lead, organize and coordinate the supervision and administration work in connection with foreign labor service cooperation within their own administrative areas. The competent commerce departments of local people's governments at the county level or above shall be responsible for the supervision and administration work in connection with the foreign labor service cooperation within their own administrative areas, and other relevant departments of such governments shall, within their own terms of reference, be responsible for the relevant work in the supervision and administration of the foreign labor service cooperation.

Chapter II Enterprises and Workers Engaging in Foreign Labor Service Cooperation

Article 5 Enterprises engaging in foreign labor service cooperation must obtain the operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation after approval by the competent commerce department of the provincial people's government or municipal people's government of cities divided into districts in accordance with the regulations of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government.

Article 6 Enterprises applying for the operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation shall meet the following conditions:
1. Meeting the conditions for being an enterprise legal person;
2. With paid-in registered capital no less than RMB6,000,000;
3. Having at least three managerial personnel that are familiar with the foreign labor service cooperation business;
4. Having sound internal management systems and emergency response and handling mechanisms; and
5. Where their legal representatives have no record of intentional crime.

Article 7 Enterprises applying for operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation shall submit to the competent commerce department of local provisional people's government or the people's government of cities divided into districts (hereafter referred to as the "Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department") the materials proving them meeting the conditions as provided in Article 6 herein. Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department shall, within 20 working days upon the date of receipt of the proving materials, review and make decision on approval or non-approval. In case of granting approval, the certificate of operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation shall be issued; otherwise, it shall notify the applicant in writing and state the reasons for non-approval.
The applicant shall legally go through the formalities for registration with the commerce and industry administration on the strength of the certificate of operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation.
Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department shall report the list of enterprises legally obtaining the certificate of operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation and going through the formalities for registration (hereafter referred to as the "Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises") to the competent commerce department of the State Council, which shall timely circulate the Chinese embassies and consulates.
Enterprises failing to legally obtain the certificate of operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation and go through the formalities for registration may not engage in foreign labor service cooperation.

Article 8 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises may not allow other entities or individuals to organize workers to go abroad and work in their own names.
No entity or individual may organize workers to go abroad and work in the name of business, tourism, overseas study, etc.

Article 9 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises shall, within 5 working days upon the date of registration with the commerce and industry administration, open a special account at the bank designated by the Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department to deposit a risk disposal reserve for foreign labor service cooperation of no less than RMB3,000,000 (hereafter referred to as the "Reserve"). Reserve may be deposited by submittal of bank guarantee of equivalent amount to the Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department.
Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department shall announce to the public the list of Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises that have deposited the Reserve.

Article 10 Reserve will be used to pay the following expenses that the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise refuses or is unable to assume:
1. The service fee that shall be returned to the workers, which is received by the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise in violation of the regulations of the State;
2. Labor remuneration that shall be paid to the workers by the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise in accordance with the laws or as agreed;
3. Expenses as required for legally compensating the losses of the workers;
4. Expenses as required for the workers to go home from abroad or accept emergency rescue due to occurrence of emergencies.
After use of the Reserve, Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise shall, within 20 working days upon the date of use, make up the Reserve to the original amount.
The specific measures for deposit, use and supervision and administration of the Reserve shall be formulated by the competent commerce department of the State Council together with the financial department of the State Council.


Article 11 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises may not organize workers to go abroad to engage in works in relation to gamble and erotic activities.

Article 12 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises shall arrange workers to accept training for occupational skills, safety prevention knowledge and foreign language as required for working abroad and the relevant laws, religion belief and customs and other relevant knowledge of the country or region where the employing project locates; otherwise, they may not organize workers to work abroad.
Workers shall accept training and master relevant skills and knowledge as required for work abroad to enhance the ability in adapting the requirements of foreign working positions and safety prevention.

Article 13 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises shall purchase personal accident insurance for the workers during their working abroad, except in case where the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises and the foreign employers agreed that the foreign employers will purchase such insurance for the workers.

Article 14 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises shall go through formalities for leaving the country for the workers and assist the workers in going through the formalities for application for residence and work permits in foreign countries.
After organizing the workers to leave the country, the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises shall timely report relevant situation to the Chinese embassies and consulates at the country where the employing project locates.

Article 15 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises and workers shall be in compliance with the laws of the country or region where the employing project locates and respect local religion belief, customs and cultural traditions.
Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises and workers may not engage in any activity that is harmful to the national security and interests.

Article 16 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises shall follow and understand the working and living situation of workers in foreign country and assist the workers in solving any difficulty and problem in work and life, and timely reflect the reasonable requirements of the workers to their foreign employers.
Where the number of workers designated to the same country or region by a Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise is more than 100, it shall arrange accompanying managerial person and report the list of such accompanying managerial persons to the Chinese embassy and consulate at the country or region where the employing project locates for filing.

Article 17 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises shall formulate emergency response plan. In case of any occurrence of emergency in foreign country, the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises shall timely and properly handle the same and immediately report to the Chinese embassy and consulate at the country or region where the employing project locates and relevant domestic authorities.

Article 18 Where there is any war, riot, material catastrophe or other emergency in the country or region where the employing project locates and Chinese government makes corresponding hedging arrangement, Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises and workers shall obey such arrangement and cooperate therewith.

Article 19 Where a Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise stops carrying out foreign labor service cooperation, it shall make proper arrangement for workers that are still working abroad, and report the arrangement scheme to the Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department for filing. The Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department shall report the arrangement scheme to the competent commerce department of the State Council, which shall then timely circulate the Chinese embassy and consulate at the country or region where the employing project locates.

Article 20 Workers shall be entitled to make complaint to the competent commerce department and other relevant departments about the breach of contract or other activities infringing upon the lawful rights and interests of the workers by the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise. Department receiving such compliant shall legally and timely handle the same in accordance with its terms of reference, and give feedback on handling situation to the complainant.

Chapter III Contracts in Relation to Foreign Labor Service Cooperation

Article 21 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises shall enter into written labor service cooperation contracts with foreign employers; otherwise, they may not organize workers to work abroad.
The labor service cooperation contracts shall state the following matters in connection with the protection of the rights and interests of the workers:
1. The content of work, place of work, working hours and resting and holidays of the workers;
2. Term of contract;
3. Labor remuneration of the workers and the payment terms thereof;
4. Contribution of the social insurance fee of the workers;
5. Labor conditions, labor protection, occupational training and protection against occupational hazards of the workers;
6. Welfare, benefits and living conditions of the workers;
7. Handling of the formalities for foreign residence and work permits of the workers;
8. Purchase of personal accident insurance for the workers;
9. Economic compensation for the workers arising out of the discharge of contract with the workers due to the reason of foreign employer;
10. Assistance and help provided to the workers in case of emergency; and
11. Liabilities for breach of contract.

Article 22 Where the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise enters into the labor service cooperation contract with the foreign employer, it shall first understand the situation of the foreign employer and the employing project as well as the relevant laws of the country or region where the employing project locates.
Where the laws of country or region where the employing project locates require that employment of foreign workers by enterprises or institutions shall be subject to approval, then the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise may only enter into labor service cooperation contract with the approved enterprises or institutions.
Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise may not enter into any labor service cooperation contract with foreign individuals.

Article 23 Except under circumstances as provided in Paragraph 2 hereof, Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise shall enter into written service contract with the workers; failure to do so will result in its prevention from organizing workers to work abroad. The service contract shall state the matters in the labor service cooperation contract that is relation to the protection of the rights and interests of the workers, and the service items, service fees and the collection method thereof as well as the liabilities for breach of contract.
Where the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise organizes workers that have entered into employment relationship with it to work abroad, the employment contract entered into with such workers shall state the matters in the labor service cooperation contract that is in relation to the protection of the rights and interests of the workers; failure to do so will result in its prevention from organizing the workers to work abroad.

Article 24 When entering into the service contracts or employment contracts with the workers, the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise shall truly tell the workers about the matters in the labor service cooperation contract that is in relation to the protection of the rights and interests of the workers as well as other situation as required to be told by the workers, and shall expressly remind the workers of the risks for working abroad, including the personal safety risks, and may not conceal any relevant information from, or provide false information to the workers.
The Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise may understand the individual fundamental situation of the workers that is directly relating to the conclusion of service contract or employment contract, and the workers shall truly explain to the Enterprise.

Article 25 Where the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise charges service fee against the workers that have entered into service contract with it, such fee-charging shall be in compliance with relevant regulations formulated by the competent price department of the State Council together with the competent commerce department of the State Council.
Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise may not charge service fee from the workers that have entered into employment contracts with it.
Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise may not collect any deposit from the workers, or require workers to provide property guarantee, in any name.

Article 26 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise shall, within 10 working days upon conclusion of service contract or employment contract with the workers, report the copies of service contract , employment contract or labor service cooperation contract and list of workers to the Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department for filing. The Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department shall report to the competent commerce department of the State Council the relevant information of the employing project and foreign employer and the list of workers.
Where the competent commerce department finds out that the service contract, employment contract or labor service cooperation contract fails to state the required matters in accordance with these Regulations, it shall require the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise to make correction.

Article 27 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise shall be responsible for assisting workers to conclude contracts with foreign employers to establish the employment relationship, and guarantee that the terms and conditions for protection of the rights and interests of the workers in such contracts shall be consistent with those in the labor service cooperation contract.

Article 28 Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises and workers shall honor their contracts and fully perform their obligations as agreed therein.

Article 29 Where the rights and interests as actually enjoyed by the workers in foreign countries are inconsistent with those provided in the contract, Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise shall assist the workers to maintain their lawful rights and interests, and demand foreign employers to perform the agreed obligations and compensate losses (if any); where the workers fail to obtain the due compensation, they may demand the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise to assume corresponding compensation liabilities. Where the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise does not assist the workers in demanding compensation from the foreign employers, the workers may directly demand the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise to make compensation.
Where the rights and interests as actually enjoyed by the workers in foreign countries do not meet the requirements of the laws of the country or region where the employing project locates, the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise shall assist the workers in maintaining their lawful rights and interests and demanding the foreign employers to perform the obligations as provided by law and compensate the losses (if any).
Where the rights and interests as actually enjoyed by the workers in foreign countries are inconsistent with those as provided in the contract due to the fact that the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise has concealed relevant information or provided false information or other reasons, then the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise shall assume the compensation liabilities.

Chapter IV Services and Administration of the Government

Article 30 The competent commerce department of the State Council shall, together with the relevant departments of the State Council to establish the foreign labor service cooperation information collection and circulation system to provide information service to the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises and workers for free.

Article 31 The competent commerce department of the State Council shall, together with relevant departments of the State Council, establish the foreign labor service cooperation risk monitoring and assessment mechanism, and timely publish the assessment results on the security status of relevant countries or regions, provide pre-warning information, and guide Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise to do a good job in preventing safety risks; where the security status of relevant countries or regions is difficult to safeguard the safety of the workers, the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise may not organize workers to go to the said countries or regions to work.

Article 32 The competent commerce department of the State Council shall, together with the statistics department of the State Council, establish the foreign labor service cooperation statistics system, and timely master, summarize and analyze the foreign labor service cooperation development situation.

Article 33 The national finance shall give necessary support for the training on the workers.
The competent commerce department of the State Council shall, together with the human resource and social security department of the State Council, strengthen the guidance and supervision on the training of the workers.

Article 34 The local people's government at the county level or above shall, in accordance with the actual situation in carrying out foreign labor service cooperation in local areas, and pursuant to the regulations of the competent commerce department of the State Council and relevant departments of the State Council, organize and establish the service platform for foreign labor service cooperation (hereafter referred to as the "Service Platform") to provide relevant services to the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises and the workers for free, and encourage and guide the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises to recruit workers through the Service Platform.
The competent commerce department of the State Council shall, together with relevant departments of the State Council, strengthen the guidance and supervision of the operation of the Service Platform.

Article 35 Chinese embassies and consulates shall provide necessary assistance to the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises to understand the situation of the foreign employers and the employing project and the laws of country or region where the employing project locates, and based on their terms of reference maintain the proper rights and interests of the workers and the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises in foreign countries, and timely circulate the competent commerce department of the State Council and the people's government of relevant province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Governnent in case of finding any activity that is in violation of the provisions of these Regulations.
The workers may legally and orderly reflect relevant claims to the local Chinese embassies and consulates, but may not disturb the normal work orders of such embassies and consulates.

Article 36 The relevant departments of the State Council and the local people's government at the county level or above shall establish and improve the emergency pre-warning, prevention and response mechanism for foreign labor service cooperation, and formulate the emergency response plan for foreign labor service cooperation.
The emergency response handling for foreign labor service cooperation shall be the duties of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government where the entity or individual that has organized the workers to work abroad, and shall be cooperated by the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government where the permanent residence of the workers is registered.
Chinese embassies and consulates shall provide assistance in the emergency response in connection with the foreign labor service cooperation.

Article 37 The competent commerce department of the State Council shall, together with the relevant departments of the State Council, establish the bad credit recording and announcement system for foreign labor service cooperation, announce activities of the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises and foreign employers in non-performing the provisions of contract and jeopardizing the lawful rights and interests of the workers, and the punishment decision on the illegal activities of the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprises.

Article 38 Any entity or individual may report to the commerce, public security, commerce and industry administration and other relevant departments any violation of the provisions herein to organize workers to work abroad and other activities that are against these Regulations. The department receiving such reporting shall timely handle the same within their terms of reference.
The competent commerce department of the State Council shall, together with the public security, commerce and industry administration and other relevant departments of the State Council, establish and improve relevant administrative systems, and prevent and restrain any illegal activity in organizing workers to work abroad.

Chapter V Legal Liabilities

Article 39 Any enterprise failing to legally obtain the operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation but engaging in foreign labor service cooperation shall be investigated, punished and banned by the commercial and industrial administration in accordance with the provisions of the Measures for Investigating, Punishing and Banning Unlicensed Business Operations at the request of the competent commerce department; in case of constituting a crime, it shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the laws.

Article 40 Where an enterprise engaging in foreign labor service cooperation is under any of the following circumstances, the competent commerce department shall revoke its certificate of operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation and confiscate any illegal gain:
1. Organizing workers to go abroad and work in the name of business, tourism, overseas study, etc.;
2. Allowing other entities or individuals to organize workers to go abroad and work in its name; or
3. Organizing workers to go abroad to engage in work relating to gamble or erotic activities.

Article 41 Any Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise failing to deposit or make up sufficient reserve as provided herein shall be ordered to correct by the competent commerce department; refusing to do so will result in revocation of its operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation.


Article 42 Where a Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise is under any of the following circumstances, the competent commerce department shall order it to correct; refusing to do so will result in a fine of not less than RMB50,000 and not more than RMB100,000 against it and a fine of not less than RMB10,000 and not more than RMB30,000 against its principal in charge:
1. Failure in arranging workers to accept relevant training but organizing them to go abroad and work;
2. Failure to purchase personal accident insurances for workers during the time when they are working abroad in accordance with these Regulations; or
3. Failure to arrange accompanying managerial persons as required in these Regulations.

Article 43 Where an enterprise engaging in foreign labor service cooperation is under any of the following circumstances, the competent commerce department shall order it to correct and give it a fine of not less than RMB100,000 and not more than RMB 200,000 and its principal in charge a fine of not less than RMB 20,000 and not more than RMB50,000; in case of leading to any material labor service dispute, emergency or causing any other serious consequence overseas by the enterprise, its certificate of operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation shall be revoked:
1. Where it organizes workers to work abroad without entering into labor service cooperation contract with foreign employer;
2. Where it organizes workers to work abroad without concluding service contract or employment contract in accordance with these Regulations;
3. Where it concludes labor service cooperation contract with unapproved foreign employers and organizes workers to work abroad in violation of the provisions of these Regulations;
4. Where it conceals relevant information or provides false information when concluding service contract or employment contract with the workers;
5. Where it does not timely handle any emergency happened in foreign country; or
6. Where it stops the foreign labor service cooperation but fails to arrange the workers it dispatched to work abroad.
Where the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise is under the circumstance as provided in Item 4 above, which constitutes a crime, it shall be legally investigated for criminal liability.

Article 44 Where the service fee charged by the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise from the workers that have concluded service contracts with it does not meet the relevant requirements of the State, or where the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise collects deposit and demands the workers to provide property guarantee, the competent price department shall give it punishment in accordance with the laws and administrative regulations on price.
Where the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise charges fees from workers that have concluded employment contract with it, it shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China.

Article 45 Where a Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise is under any of the following circumstances, the competent commerce department shall order it to correct; refusing to do so will result in a fine of not less than RMB10,000 and not more than RMB20,000 against it and a fine of not less than RMB2,000 and not more than RMB5,000 against its principal in charge:
1. Where it fails to submit the copies of service contract, employment contract, or labor service cooperation contract and list of workers to the competent commerce department for filing;
2. Where it fails to report the relevant situation to the Chinese embassies and consulates at the country or region where the employing project locates, or report the list of accompanying managerial persons to the Responsible Approval Competent Commerce Department in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, after organizing the workers to work abroad;
3. Where it does not formulate any emergency response plan; or
4. Where it stops carrying out foreign labor service cooperation but fails to report the arrangement for the workers to the competent commerce department for filing.
Where the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise refuses to report the copies of service contract, employment contract or labor service cooperation contract to the competent commerce department for filing, and such contracts do not state the required matters as provided herein, or refuses to make up any required matters of such contracts at the request of the competent commerce department after filing such contracts, it shall be punished in accordance with Article 43 hereof.

Article 46 Where the competent commerce department or other departments find out any illegal activity which is suspected of committing a crime in the investigation of any violation of these Regulations, it shall be legally and timely transferred to the judicial authority for handling.

Article 47 Where the personnel of the competent commerce department and other relevant departments have any of the following activities in the supervision and administration of the foreign labor service cooperation, they shall be given punishment; in case of committing a crime, they shall be investigated for criminal liability:
1. Where they approve the application for operation qualifications for foreign labor service cooperation that does not meet the conditions as provided herein;
2. Where they do not withdraw the original approval when the Foreign Labor Service Cooperation Enterprise no longer has the conditions as provided herein;
3. Where they do not legally investigate and punish the activity of organizing workers to work abroad in violation of the provisions hereof and other activities against these Regulations; or
4. Other activities of abusing their functions and powers, committing neglect of duty, playing favoritism or failing to legally perform the duties of supervision and administration.

Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions

Article 48 Chambers relating to foreign labor service cooperation shall carry out activities, provide service to their members and give full play of its role in self-discipline in accordance with their articles of association that are legally formulated.

Article 49 The administration of expatriates that are appointed to work overseas under any foreign contracting works shall be implemented in accordance with the Administrative Regulations on Contracting Foreign Projects and the regulations of the competent commerce department and the competent housing and urban-rural development department of the State Council.
The administrative measures for foreign labor service cooperation in relation to the overseas assignment of seamen (excluding fishery seamen) shall be otherwise formulated by the competent transport department of the State Council in accordance with the relevant provisions herein and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Seamen.

Article 50 In case of organizing workers to go to work in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan region, these Regulations shall be referred to for implementation.

Article 51 Where enterprises engaging in foreign labor service cooperation organize workers to work in special countries or regions as determined by the competent commerce department of the State Council together with relevant departments of the State Council such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such organization shall be approved by the competent commerce department of the State Council together with relevant departments of the State Council.

Article 52 Where enterprises that are approved to engage in foreign labor service cooperation in accordance with relevant regulations of the State before the implementation of these Regulations no longer possess the conditions as provided herein, they shall reach the conditions as provided herein within the time limit as required by the competent commerce department of the State Council; otherwise, they may not continue to engage in foreign labor service cooperation.

Article 53 These Regulations shall come into force as of August 1, 2012.