编者:万法通
Lawspirit Legal Translation Weekly
 
万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

Ⅰ Legal Forum

《中华人民共和国劳动争议调解仲裁法》两版英译本比较及万法通建议版本(一)(作者:艾飞)

本文旨在比较《中华人民共和国劳动争议调解仲裁法》两版英文译本,分析二者优劣之处,并在此基础上提出万法通建议版本。所资比较的译本,一者源自北大法宝(www.lawinfochina.com;下称版本一),一者源自北京劳动法律网(www.laborhr.com下称版本二)。提出的建议版本以万法通高级译审刘芳女士的译文为基础。所做比较仅为学术性探讨,不属于对两版译文的质量评价,如读者有不同意见,欢迎反馈。全文将在六月份于万法通《法译周刊》上连载,敬请关注。

原文:第一条 为了公正及时解决劳动争议,保护当事人合法权益,促进劳动关系和谐稳定,制定本法。

版本一:Article 1 To impartially and timely settle the labor disputes, protect the legal rights and interests of the parties, and promote the harmonious and stable labor relations, this law has been formulated.

版本二:Article 1 The law is formulated in order to fairly and timely resolve labor disputes, protect the lawful rights and interests of the parties and promote harmonious and stable labor relations.

两版分析比较:

编者:万法通
Lawspirit Legal Translation Weekly
 
万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

1.从句式看,版本一开门见山列举出法律制定的目的,形式上较为庄重;版本二平铺直叙,语法上虽无错误,但显得力量稍弱;

2.两版本在“本法”第一次出现时均直接采用“this Law”,在当事方第一次出现时,均直接采用“the Parties”, 都显得不够严谨;

3.版本一采用“This Law has been formulated”译“制定本法”,则不如采用惯常使用的“This law is hereby formulated”。

万法通建议版本:Article 1 In order to settle labor disputes on a fair and timely basis, to safeguard the legal rights and interests of the parties to labor disputes (the Parties) and to promote the harmony and stability of labor relationship, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Labor Dispute Mediation and Arbitration (this “Law”) is hereby formulated.

原文:第二条 中华人民共和国境内的用人单位与劳动者发生的下列劳动争议,适用本法:

(一)因确认劳动关系发生的争议;
(二)因订立、履行、变更、解除和终止劳动合同发生的争议;
(三)因除名、辞退和辞职、离职发生的争议;

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万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

(四)因工作时间、休息休假、社会保险、福利、培训以及劳动保护发生的争议;
(五)因劳动报酬、工伤医疗费、经济补偿或者赔偿金等发生的争议;
(六)法律、法规规定的其他劳动争议。

版本一:Article 2 This Law shall apply to the following labor disputes arising between an employer and an employee within the territories of the People’s Republic of China:

(1). A dispute arising from the confirmation of a labor relationship;
(2). A dispute arising from the conclusion, performance, modification, rescission or termination of a labor contract;
(3). A dispute arising from the removal or layoff of an employee or the resignation or retirement of an employee;
(4). A dispute arising from the work hours, breaks, vacations, social insurance, benefits, training, or labor safety;
(5). A dispute arising from the labor remunerations, medical expenses for a work-related injury, economic indemnity, compensation, etc.; or
(6). Any other labor dispute as provided for by a law or administrative regulation.

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万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

版本二:Article 2 The Law shall apply to the following labor disputes between employing units and laborers within the territory of the People's Republic of China:

1. disputes arising from the confirmation of labor relations;
2. disputes arising from the conclusion, performance, alteration and termination of labor contracts;
3. disputes arising from name removal, dismissal, resignation or vacation of office;
4. disputes arising from working hours, rest days and leave days, social insurance, fringe benefits, training and labor protection;
5. disputes arising from labor remunerations, work injury medical expenses, economic compensation or damages; or
6. other labor disputes prescribed by laws and regulations.

两版分析比较:

1.“Laborer”一词偏指“体力劳动者”;“Unit”在指部门、单位时,暗含其上存在一个完整的主体。故版本二所选两词均有所不当;

2.“解除”与“终止”二者并列时,其含义应予以严格区别。前者具有溯及力,后者则无。“解除”分为两种,一种为有溯及力的解除,二者为无溯及力的解除,取后一意义时,与终止同意,故实践中亦常以“解除合同”表示“终止合同”的意思,但如文中明确以之与“终止”并列,则应取前一解释。版本二笼统译为“termination”,有失严谨。
编者:万法通
Lawspirit Legal Translation Weekly
 
万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

3.两版译文在连接第5项及第6项时均选用介词“or”,有所不当。依一般解释,“or”有非此即彼,用于选项之间构成排除性的意思,即只能适用于其中一项,而实践中争议可能同时涉及多个分项,故以选用“and”为宜。

万法通建议版本:

Article 2 This Law shall apply to the following labor disputes arising between the employer and the employee within the territory of the People’s Republic of China:

(1) disputes involving confirmation of labor relationship;
(2) disputes involving execution, performance, amendment, rescission or termination of labor contract;
(3) disputes involving removal, layoff, resignation or vacation of office;
(4) disputes involving working hours, rest and leave , social insurance, benefit and welfare, training and labor safety;
(5) disputes involving labor remuneration, medical payments for work-related injury, economic indemnity or compensation, etc. and
(6) other disputes provided for by laws and regulations.
编者:万法通
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万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

原文:第三条 解决劳动争议,应当根据事实,遵循合法、公正、及时、着重调解的原则,依法保护当事人的合法权益。

版本一:Article 3 A labor dispute shall be settled on the basis of facts and on the principles of legality, fairness, timeliness and emphasis on mediation so as to protect the legal rights and interests of the parties according to law.

版本二:Article 3 The resolution of labor disputes shall be based on facts and follow the principles of lawfulness, fairness, timeliness and mediation-oriented to protect the lawful rights and interests of the parties.

两版分析比较:此条译文两版处理差异不大。关键区别在于“着重调解”一词的译法。版本一逐字译为“emphasis on mediation”,可谓无功无过。版本二的亮点在于将其译成“mediation-oriented”,而未能与上文的名词统一,故失败点亦在于此。

万法通建议版本:Article 3 The resolution of labor disputes shall be based on facts and follow the principles of lawfulness, fairness, timeliness and being mediation- orientated to protect the legal rights and interests of the parties.

编者:万法通
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万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

原文:第四条 发生劳动争议,劳动者可以与用人单位协商,也可以请工会或者第三方共同与用人单位协商,达成和解协议。

版本一:Article 4 Where a labor dispute arises, an employee may consult with his or her employer, or request the trade union or a third party to jointly consult with the employer, so as to reach a settlement agreement.

版本二:Article 4 Where a labor dispute arises, a laborer may have a consultation with the employing unit or request the labor union or a third party to have a consultation with the employing unit in order to reach a settlement agreement.

两版分析比较:

1. “consult”一词多指咨询、请教,通常一方为非专业人士,另一方为专业人士,故两版本对此词的选取均有所不当;

2. “工会”译为“trade union”或“labor union”本来均无不可(后者主要为美国用语),但考虑到中华全国总工会等机构官方译文采用的均为“trade union”,亦应统一采用为好。

万法通建议版本:Article 4 Where a labor dispute arises, the employee may negotiate with the employer, or may, together with the trade union or a third party, negotiate with the employer, so as to reach a settlement agreement.
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万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

原文:第五条 发生劳动争议,当事人不愿协商、协商不成或者达成和解协议后不履行的,可以向调解组织申请调解;不愿调解、调解不成或者达成调解协议后不履行的,可以向劳动争议仲裁委员会申请仲裁;对仲裁裁决不服的,除本法另有规定的外,可以向人民法院提起诉讼。

版本一:Article 5 Where a labor dispute arises, if a party does not desire a consultation, the parties fail to settle the dispute through consultation, or a party does not execute a reached settlement agreement, any party may apply to a medication organization for mediation; if a party does not desire a medication, the parties fail to settle the dispute through medication, or a party does not execute a reached medication agreement, any party may apply to a labor dispute arbitration commission for arbitration; and a party disagreeing to an arbitral award may bring an action in the people’s court except as otherwise provided for by this Law.

版本二:Article 5 Where a labor dispute arises, the parties are not willing to have a consultation, the consultation fails or the settlement agreement is reached but not performed, an application for mediation may be made to an mediation institute. Where the parties are not willing to mediate, the mediation fails or the mediation agreement is reached but not performed, an application for arbitration may be made to the labor dispute arbitration commission. Where there is objection to the arbitral award, litigation may be initiated to a people's court unless otherwise specified herein.
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万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

两版分析比较:

1. “发生劳动争议”、“当事人不愿协商……”在原文中构成递进的两个条件从句,版本二在“the parties”前漏用“if”,导致出现两个主句,形成语法错误;此外,使用复数,亦使意思一变而成“双方均不愿协商”,属于误译;
2. “Execute”有履行的意思,但在法律文件中,其还有一个更常用的意思,即“签署”,故应尽量避免如版本一以“Execute”译履行,以免引起不必要的误解;此外,版本一还数处将“mediation”误拼为“medication”;
3. “Institute”一词多指学会、协会等机构,不宜以之译一般性的“组织”;
4. “可以向劳动争议仲裁委员会申请仲裁”,版本二的译文在“labor dispute arbitration commission”前使用“the”,属于定冠词使用不当。

万法通建议版本:Article 5 Where a labor dispute arises, and if either party is not willing to negotiate, or such negotiation fails, or either party refuses to perform the reached settlement agreement, such dispute may be submitted to a mediation organization for mediation; if either party is not willing to enter into mediation, or such mediation fails, or either party refuses to perform the reached mediation agreement, such dispute may be submitted to a labor dispute arbitration committee for arbitration; unless otherwise provided herein, any party disagreeing with the arbitral award may bring an action to the competent people’s court.

原文:第六条 发生劳动争议,当事人对自己提出的主张,有责任提供证据。与争议事项有关的证据属于用人单位掌握管理的,用人单位应当提供;用人单位不提供的,应当承担不利后果。

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万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

版本一:Article 6 Where a labor dispute arises, a party shall be responsible for adducing evidence to back up its claims. Where the evidence related to the disputed matter is controlled by an employer, the employer shall provide it; and the employer who fails to provide the evidence shall bear the adverse consequences.

版本二:Article 6 Where a labor dispute arises, the parties have the responsibility to give evidence for their own claim. Where the evidence relevant to the dispute matter is handled and managed by the employing unit, the employing unit shall give such evidence. Where the employing unit does not give evidence, it shall assume any unfavorable consequences.

两版分析比较:

此条规定的是举证责任及特定情况下的举证责任倒置,两版译文处理大同小异。惟“应当承担不利后果”一句,结合学理及司法解释,推究立法原意,应指不提供证据的,即应推定该证据之存在及效力。译文处理为“consequences”,容易理解为处罚等后果,故以译为“presumption”为宜。

万法通建议版本:Article 6 Where a labor dispute arises, the parties shall bear the burden of submitting evidence supporting their claims. If the evidence relevant to the dispute subject is controlled or managed by the the employer shall provide such evidence; the employer who refuses to provide the same shall be subject to any adverse presumption.
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万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

原文:第七条 发生劳动争议的劳动者一方在十人以上,并有共同请求的,可以推举代表参加调解、仲裁或者诉讼活动。

版本一:Article 7 Where a labor dispute involves more than ten employees and the employees have a same claim, they may recommend their representatives to participate in the mediation, arbitration, or litigation.

版本二:Article 7 Where the party in a labor dispute consists of more than 10 laborers, and they have a joint request, they may recommend a representative to participate in mediation, arbitration or litigation activities.

两版分析比较:

1.依中文立法习惯,“以上”一词,一般均会解释为“包含本数”,处理成英文时应予以适当考虑。两个版本均处理成“more than”,意思有所偏差;

2.在推举代表调解、仲裁、诉讼时(如代表人诉讼),代表人可以为多人,版本二处理成“a representative”,有误;

3.“推举”版本一和版本二均选用“recommend”一词,但“recommend”为推荐之意,而原文强调的是“举”,故用elect更为妥当;

4.“共同请求”,译以英文中现有的词汇“collective claims”为宜。

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万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

万法通建议版本:Article 7 Where no less than ten (10) employees to a labor dispute have collective claims, they may elect representatives to participate in mediation, arbitration or litigation

原文:第八条 县级以上人民政府劳动行政部门会同工会和企业方面代表建立协调劳动关系三方机制,共同研究解决劳动争议的重大问题。

版本一:Article 8 In conjunction with the trade unions and enterprise representatives, the labor administrative authority of the people’s government at or above the county level shall establish a tri-party labor mechanism for coordinating the labor relations, and jointly study and address major issues related to labor dispute.

版本二:Article 8 The labor administrative department of people's governments at the county level or above together with labor unions and enterprise representatives shall establish a labor relation tripartite mechanism to jointly study and resolve major issues of labor disputes.

两版分析比较:

版本一将“In conjunction with……”前置,构成不必要的强调,反而模糊了句子的主语。

万法通建议版本:Article 8 The labor administrative department of people's governments at the county level or above shall, together with trade unions and enterprise representatives, establish a labor relation tripartite jointly study and address major issues of labor disputes.
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万法通·法译周刊
2009年06月01日 总第十二期

 

原文:第九条 用人单位违反国家规定,拖欠或者未足额支付劳动报酬,或者拖欠工伤医疗费、经济补偿或者赔偿金的,劳动者可以向劳动行政部门投诉,劳动行政部门应当依法处理。

版本一:Article 9 Where an employer, in violation of state provisions, delays paying or fails to pay in full the labor remunerations, or delays paying the medical expenses for a work-related injury, economic indemnity, or compensation, an employee may complain about it to the labor administrative authority and the labor administrative authority shall deal with it according to law.

版本二:Article 9 Where an employing unit violates state provisions and labor remunerations are in arrears or not paid in full, or work injury medical expenses, economic compensation or damages are in arrears, the laborer may make a complaint to the labor administrative department which shall handle the matter in accordance with the law.

两版分析比较:
原文中的“违反国家规定”和“拖欠或者未足额支付劳动报酬……”实际上是同义语,版本二的译文将二者视为两个并列的条件,故有所不妥。

万法通建议版本:Article 9 Where an employer, in violation of State provisions, defaults in making or fails to make full payment of labor remunerations, medical payments of work-related injury or economic indemnity or compensations, the employee involved therein may complain to the labor administration department, and the labor administration department shall handle such complaint in accordance with law.