This dissertation examines the labor law enforcement and compliance in contemporary China's workplaces. In explaining an increasing variation in compliance and employment relations practices across factories and regions, this dissertation proposes a -bottom-up[DOUBLE VERTICAL LINE] enforcement model, based on an extensive field research. The emerging -bottom-up[DOUBLE VERTICAL LINE] model emphasizes the increasingly important role of two new actors: 1) workers themselves, specifically the second-generation workers, and 2) a wide variety of labor-related social intermediaries including the media, labor lawyers, various social organizations, HR/ labor professionals and online social networks. This dissertation argues that these actors increase employer concerns and uncertainty directly and indirectly, thereby motivating employers to respond to potential legal risk in the workplace either by more compliance with labor laws or by adoption of more sophisticated employment relations practices. It is emphasized that this emerging -bottom-up[DOUBLE VERTICAL LINE] enforcement remains within the state's guidelines, but contentious and consequential to employers. This study deserves close attention, given the situation that existing explanations, be it stateoriented approach or non-state approach, are increasingly considered to be questionable. Practically speaking, this study advances ongoing discussion regarding labor regulations, i.e., how to enhance compliance, and is particularly relevant to many developing economies, which suffer from state incapacity and/ or unwillingness to enforce labor laws.