Guideline outlines measures to resume work

Legal organizations assist companies affected by virus control procedures

Legal organizations will work together to protect enterprises' legal rights and reduce the impact of legal procedures that may affect their operations during the novel coronavirus prevention and control period, according to a directive published on Wednesday.

The directive, which aims to provide guarantees for the resumption of work and production, was released by the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice.

For enterprises that are unable to resume production due to judicial investigations, legal organizations will choose measures with the least impact on production, Chen Guoqing, deputy chief procurator, said during a news conference on Wednesday.

"We will also re-evaluate the circumstances of business operators who are in custody for police investigation, prosecution or trials. If further detention is unnecessary, they can be released on bail so they can resume their businesses," Chen said.

Twelve key members of seven enterprises in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, have been out on bail since last year so their businesses could carry on operations, he added.

What's more, for enterprises that cause the spread of the novel coronavirus or create the risk of spreading it after resuming production, fewer arrests and prosecutions should be made as long as the enterprises have enforced epidemic prevention or control measures, according to a directive.

As the number of newly diagnosed and suspected cases declines and the number of cured patients increases rapidly, China has begun to resume work in an orderly manner while ensuring all response measures are carried out.

In addition, police around China have targeted cases that affect epidemic prevention and control measures, Du Hangwei, vice-minister of public security, said at the news conference.

As of Monday, public security departments have solved 22,000 cases relating to disturbance of epidemic control work, with criminal detention of 4,260 people.