The Chinese government will firmly crack down on illegal employment and the use of child labor, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Tuesday.

In response to criticism by foreign human rights groups of China's use of child labor, Qin said China is firmly against activities which infringe on labor rights, especially the illegal employment of children.

Those in China guilty of employing child labor will be punished by law, he said.

"We will listen to constructive criticism from the world, but we should not confound criminal activities with the policy of the Chinese government," Qin said. 

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2007)