Abstract: The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform in a Comprehensive Way to Advance Chinese Modernization has made important arrangements for "improving the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics" and "improving the system of safeguarding and improving people's livelihoods", highlighting the important role of social law and of building China's independent knowledge system of social law. Social law is an important guarantee for modernization as well as an important part of modernization itself. Currently, there is a lack of consensus between the legislative body and academia in China regarding the definition and scope of social law. The building of the concept and framework of social law should be based on the legislative practice of social law in China as well as the legal needs of Chinese modernization for improving the system of ensuring and improving people's livelihood, while embodying the unique values and basic principles of social law. Social law is a branch of law that regulates labor relations, social security, protection of the rights and interests of special groups, social organizations, and public welfare and charity and requires state intervention or financial assistance, with the main purpose of protecting citizens' rights to existence and development.

Key Words: Chinese modernization, social law, labor law, social security law, independent knowledge system

Author: Xie Zengyi, Ph.D. in Law, research fellow, CASS Institute of Law;

Source: 6 (2024) Journal of Comparative Law.