July 1, 2010

The Tort Liability Law, which took effect on July 1, 2010, provides that people may sue for damages following medical accidents, road accidents, harm from pollution, mental distress, and violations of privacy or reputation on the Internet, as well as injuries from objects thrown from high-rise buildings.

The tort law, approved in December, 2009, has been seen as one of the key laws within China's legal framework of civil rights protection.

July 1, 2010

The minimum wage in 10 provinces and cities including Hainan, Henan, Shaanxi and Anhui provinces, as well as Shenzhen city was raised on July 1, 2010.
 
Except Shenzhen, other provinces or regions increased their minimum wage by at least 20 percent, with the highest at 31.7 percent in the first-tier zone in Hainan.

The increase rate in Anhui was 25.9 percent, Yunnan 22 percent, Hunan 27.8 percent, Henan 23 percent.

July 2, 2010

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged local governments to step up efforts in disaster prevention while heavy rains sweep the country's south and cause floods.

Wen made the call during an inspection tour to flood-hit Hunan Province on July 1, 2010.

He told local officials it is a top priority to ensure the safety of people and asked them to help farmers resume agricultural production.