The All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) has begun to adopt a trade union's lawyer system on a trial basis in the hope of better protecting employees' legal rights and improving the legal aid system in China.

Guo Jun, undersecretary from the Legal Work Team of ACFTU, says that this action will enable the legal staff at the trade union to participate in legal activities on an equal basis with that of professional lawyers, thereby improving the Labor Union's capacity in maintaining justice.

According to Guo, different from legal counselors, these lawyers at the Labor Union enjoy the same treatment with government civilians and they must not carry out paid legal service outside of the Union. However, they can participate in drafting relevant rules and legislation within the trade union.

ACFTU has required the trade unions at provincial and regional levels to set up their own legal aid organizations within this year, and those at the county level will establish their groups within three years.

By the end of 2005, ACFTU had set up 3856 legal aid organizations across the country, which boasts totally 10000 legal aid workers.

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