Ministry of Justice launches legal aid campaign to safeguard workers’ rights

The Ministry of Justice has issued a circular on a comprehensive plan to protect workers' legitimate rights and interests, focusing on one goal, four key priorities, and seven specific measures aimed at improving workers' livelihoods and working conditions.

The campaign's goal is to ensure people's livelihoods, protect workers' legitimate rights and interests, resolve disputes, and maintain social stability, according to the circular. It focuses on addressing the most pressing concerns of workers, particularly migrant workers and those in new forms of employment, by providing targeted, convenient and high-quality legal aid services across all industries and stages of employment.

The circular prioritizes employer-worker relations, labor remuneration, insurance and social security, and workers' physical and mental health.

Regarding employer-worker relations, efforts will be made to help workers learn about potential legal issues through legal publicity and consultation, and to assist them in signing contracts and agreements in a standardized manner. Concerning labor remuneration, the legal services network will be optimized to promptly address wage claims, with tailored services for workers in new forms of employment. In terms of insurance and social security, specialized actions will be organized to help workers enroll in insurance programs and apply for assistance. On workers' physical and mental health, legal aid volunteers will play a significant role in providing psychological counseling and other support services to workers, according to the circular.

The circular also outlines seven specific measures:

1. There will be a timely response to aid requests, with proactive legal check-ups to fully understand and promptly meet workers' legal service needs.

2. Free legal consultation will be provided through online and offline legal service platforms to address workers' legal requests promptly, and mobile legal aid stations will be established to offer smart services for workers in new forms of employment.

3. Legal aid processes will be optimized and streamlined by further fostering green channels for faster legal services, providing cross-jurisdictional legal aid services through collaboration, and reducing the cost for protecting workers' rights.

4. Targeted aid services will be offered during critical periods, such as year-end and the beginning of a new year, to meet the specific needs of different groups of workers.

5. Professional service teams will be formed by improving assignment mechanisms and encouraging government procurement of services to deliver more specialized legal aid.

6. The quality and efficiency of legal aid will be enhanced by strengthening case quality management and collaborating with case handling authorities to ensure effective resolution of cases.

7. Broad collaboration will be fostered among various parties to promote the integration of legal aid, mediation and arbitration, and to encourage workers to become legal aid volunteers, in a bid to resolve disputes promptly and effectively.