It is also possible, given the wording of the new labour law, that resisting unionisation is illegal.

ECONOMIST: Trade unions in China

Furthermore, some of the reforms especially those of pensions and labour law may put the new government in conflict with its core constituencies, such as public servants and trade-union members.

ECONOMIST: Lula's balancing act

Stung by such talk, in 2008 the previous Labour government proposed a new law updating the country's antiquated rules on backhanders and bungs, including those dispensed overseas.

ECONOMIST: A long-delayed anti-bribery law will soon come into force

So, there has been a vacuum which the current Fine Gael-Labour coalition government says it will fill with a new law by the summer.

BBC: Europe

The government has now responded by saying that a new labour law being drawn up will allow workers to organise.

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There are some difficult issues ahead which are going to need more than Labour votes to become law - the new statutory process for closing and merging schools being just one example.

BBC: State of Play 4 - Labour

Shadow Welsh Secretary Owen Smith, who has previously been cautious about Wales acquiring income tax powers, said Labour wanted a new law to implement the Silk commission to give the Welsh government "desperately needed" borrowing powers.

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Wages are up by 10-15%, he says, and a new labour-protection law that came into effect on January 1st increases costs by the same amount again.

ECONOMIST: Hard times loom for the world's biggest toymaking centre

Mr Murphy said a new Scotland Bill would be published after the general election if Labour is returned to power, and would become law before the Holyrood elections in 2015.

BBC: Calman statement on increasing Holryood's powers