Some analysts believe the order was issued with the current wave of industrial strikes in mind, and this despite Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s support for demands made by migrant workers, “China’s children”. Indeed, the government is not keen on rising protests with workers demanding higher wages and better working conditions. China’s entire economy is based on cheap labour and it would be at risk if wages rose too fast.
"China, during a process of social and economic transformation, is facing emerging social conflicts and new problems in social security," Public Security Vice-Minister Zhang Xinfeng is quoted as saying. "Police at all levels must fully realise the complexity of the problem."
A Ministry of Public Security announcement said police were given orders to identify problems at the root and resolve conflicts in their early stages. It is unclear whether they should use peaceful means to do so or crack down with force. A similar campaign launched before the Beijing Olympics in 2008 saw scores of people arrested.
In the meantime, striking workers are changing their tactics. At Honda for example, they contacted a Beijing academic to act as their representative. Increasingly, at places like Honda and Foxconn, a new generation of savvy mainland migrants is no longer willing to put up with poor working conditions.
Labour unrest appears not to have spared Hong Kong, forcing business with interests in both the former British colony and the Pearl Delta region to raise wages and improve working conditions.
Federation of Hong Kong Industries chairman Cliff Sun Kai-lit warned that now the greatest fear is that the protest movement might spread.