Two Sessions 2026 takeaways: PE teacher crunch, labor-dispatch overhaul, and domestic-violence exemptions

The annual Two Sessions — lianghui — put social policy back on the front burner this year, with physical education, labor rights, and domestic violence among the most discussed topics. It has been reported that delegates and advisers raised 226 motions and 5,865 proposals during the March meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Why should Western readers care? Because lianghui proposals, even when they don’t become immediate law, signal Beijing’s priorities and can reshape business practices and social governance at scale.

Physical education and youth screens

Former NBA star Yao Ming (姚明), now an NPC deputy, pushed for measures to relieve a shortage of school physical education teachers and to curb youth internet addiction. Yao warned that demand for PE is rising as China tries to ease academic stress and improve child health, while many PE teachers face heavy workloads — reportedly teaching more than 16 classes a week. He proposed better organization, support policies, and using retired athletes to help fill gaps, and reiterated past calls for more screen-free public time and spaces for offline socializing.

Labor-dispatch system faces repeal calls

A CPPCC member and lawyer, Zhou Shihong, urged abolition of China’s labor-dispatch system, arguing it has “drifted from the original purpose” of covering only short-term, auxiliary roles. The dispatch model — where agencies hire workers and place them with host companies that supervise day-to-day work — has long been criticized for unequal pay and unpaid social insurance. It has been reported that the number of dispatched workers exceeded 30 million by early 2025, involving more than 180,000 companies. Zhou wants firms to sign contracts directly with employees and to reserve third‑party staffing only for genuine temporary needs — a change that would matter to both domestic employers and foreign companies that rely on Chinese supply chains.

Domestic violence and the cooling-off debate

Fang Yan, an NPC deputy and lawyer, proposed exemptions to the 30-day “cooling-off” period for divorce when domestic violence is involved. The cooling-off rule, introduced in 2021 to reduce impulsive divorces, requires time and mutual consent to finalize proceedings — a requirement critics say can trap victims. Fang called for clear standards on what evidence qualifies for an exemption and for a defined verification timeline. These proposals reflect a broader tension at lianghui: balancing social stability and individual protections. Will Beijing convert these high-profile motions into concrete legal change? The meetings suggest the question is now squarely on the agenda.