Ministry of Justice Seeks to Improve Re-education Through Labor Work Safety

March 15, 2005

According to the Legal Daily, the Ministry of Justice has issued instructions to officials in charge of re-education through labor ("RETL") to improve the safety conditions under which detainees work in the system. Public security authorities generally reserve RETL for those who commit relatively minor crimes, and they administer it with little or no judicial oversight. The Ministry urges that officials improve their inspections of working conditions in RETL units. The goal of the safety program is zero injuries or deaths in the entire system. For a further description of government plans to reform the RETL system, click here.