New law to abolish laojiao system

China is taking a fresh look at abolishing the long-disputed re-education-through-labor system, or laojiao, by proposing a new law which is more lenient and protective of the legal rights of minor offenders.

According to the annual legislative plan released on Tuesday by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, the proposed law on correction of illegal acts is among the 20 draft laws or amendments to be discussed this year.

Listed in NPC's annual legislative plan since 2005, the draft law was put aside for two years because of disagreements, and the standing committee said there are still "lots of disagreements" this year.