China offers free legal advice, popularizes laws amid epidemic outbreak

China's Ministry of Justice has offered free legal consultation to individuals and enterprises via hotlines and websites amid the COVID-19 outbreak, said a ministry official on Feb 26.

As of Feb 24, the 12348.gov.cn website had received a total of 4,195 inquiries for epidemic-related legal advice at its ministerial and provincial-level platforms, mainly covering issues concerning contract disputes, consumer rights and social security, said Xiong Xuanguo, vice justice minister, at a press conference.

The website has also received 440 legal and wage-related inquiries from rural migrant workers since Jan 19, which have all been handled in a timely manner, said Xiong.

In addition, the ministry has stepped up efforts to popularize laws by opening social media platforms, printing manuals, releasing typical cases of epidemic-related violations, among other moves.

He also highlighted the efforts in promoting online application of legal aid for those in need and the introduction of legal aid videos for criminal suspects or defendants in detention facilities during the epidemic.

In the meantime, courts at various levels across the country are making full use of judicial information platforms to facilitate online case-filing, court hearings and even auxiliary judgment implementations, especially in civil and commercial cases.

Such non-contact litigation services are of great significance in solving conflicts and disputes for enterprises amid the outbreak, said Zhang Shuyuan, vice president of the Supreme People's Court.