Almost 11 billion yuan ($1.81 billion) has been recovered and paid to migrant workers nationwide, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security revealed on January 20.

To ensure migrant workers are paid properly before returning home for the Chinese Lunar New Year, a campaign began on November 20, 2013. As of January 15, some 1.5 million migrant workers had benefited.

In 2011, the country's top legislature passed an amendment to the Criminal Law stipulating that malicious wage defaults are a crime and employers who intentionally withhold wages may face up to seven years in jail.

Child Protection

On January 20, Chinese authorities pledged stricter supervision over the protection of minors and their guardianship amid a growing number of cases in which juveniles have had their rights violated.

Those found to have violated juveniles' rights will be barred from acting as guardians in the future, in accordance with administrative and legal procedures, according to a statement from the Supreme People's Court, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security.

"Parents and guardians' understanding of their liabilities should be improved, and their guardianship ought to be revoked if they fail to fulfill their duties," said Ma Guohua, deputy secretary general of the All China Lawyers Association.

China has no formal regulations on the guardianship of juveniles.

Increase in Charity

The Minister of Civil Affairs, Li Liguo, revealed on January 17 that non-governmental charity funds are expected to reach 100 billion yuan ($16.5 billion) in 2013, much higher than the 81.7 billion yuan ($13.5 billion) in 2012.

"Last year, Chinese charity organizations continued to expand, with more than 3,500 foundations existing nationwide," Li said.

China's top legislature included a law on philanthropy in its 2013-17 five-year legislature program, with some regions, such as Fujian and Shaanxi provinces, already starting the legislative process.

However, Li said that China still faces many challenges and will step up necessary reform.

In 2014, the ministry will improve the registration system for social charity organizations and strive to innovate charity fund management in order to create more ways for enterprises and individuals to participate in philanthropy, according to Li.

Li also said that the ministry will establish platforms for publishing donation information on funds in order to increase transparency and credibility.

Doctor Training

In 2015, China will set up standardized training for medical graduates before they can become resident doctors, according to a statement by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on January 17.

According to guidelines issued by seven departments, including the commission, health departments at all levels should form concrete policies and set up guarantee systems to pave the way for standardized training nationwide.

Wang Chen, vice head of the Science and Education Division of the commission, said that, drawing from international experiences, a graduate must receive strict training before he or she becomes a clinical doctor.

However, China does not currently have national standards for training, and training to become a resident doctor depends on the hospitals where they are employed, leading to differing standards across regions, Wang said.

According to the guidelines, training bases will first be set up at top-level hospitals and some lower-level hospitals based on the local situation. They will be subsidized by local governments and central finance.

Wang said that after standardized training begins nationwide, passing it will become a requirement for attaining a professional title.