By Russell Brown
May 1 is Labor Day in China. A source of considerable controversy, China's first proposed Labor Contract Law in more than ten years, while not passed into law during the annual National People's Congress, is, according to experts, assured of passage soon.

Beijing's municipal government will issue migrant workers at construction sites free multi-functional identity cards this year to prevent wage problems and better facilitate management.

China's State Environment Protection Administration has refused to hand out environmental protection approvals to twelve industrial projects that have failed to invite the public to assess their pollution control measures.

The United Steelworkers in the United States says it sent letters to select members of the American Chamber of Commerce in China urging them to distance themselves from the Chamber's attempt to undermine a proposed law that would bolster some rights of Chinese workers.

The Beijing Municipal Department of Health, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Beijing Municipal Tourism Administration and Beijing Aiguo Weisheng have jointly issued a circular on carrying out a smoking ban among the restaurants in Beijing in an effort to provide a smoke-free Olympic Games in 2008.

The Xiluodu Hydropower Station, the first of four hydropower stations on Jinsha River and the second largest hydropower station in China, has reported some preliminary achievements in environmental protection.

China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce and the State Food and Drug Administration have jointly issued a proclamation exposing 16 television ads that have been accused of misleading consumers.