Abstract:The initiation of labor public interest litigation by trade unions is a vital means to fully safeguard labor public interests and to activate the functions of trade unions as employee organizations. While China has begun preliminary exploration into the participation of trade unions in labor public interest litigation, under the current legal framework, trade unions in China can only play a supportive role in labor procuratorial public interest litigation and are unable to independently initiate labor public interest litigation, thus failing to fully exert their role as employee organizations. This article first provides a theoretical justification for labor public interest litigation initiated by trade unions in China, then examines the legal standing of trade unions in labor public interest protection litigation in foreign jurisdictions. Finally, it proposes a framework for the plaintiff standing, scope of cases, procedural mechanisms, and support systems for labor public interest litigation initiated by Chinese trade unions, aiming to integrate labor public interest litigation with China’s trade union system. The objective is to enhance the role of Chinese trade unions in protecting employees’ functions, fostering harmonious labor relations, and maintaining the orderly operation of the labor market and the community.