Forced labor outlawed for people in detention

BEIJING - A regulation outlawing forced labor and protecting the rights of the detained was published by the State Council on Thursday.

The regulation forbids detention houses from forcing those in custody to work, "a major step forward" compared with the current guideline on detention house management, experts said.

The existing regulation allows the detained to do "proper work" in custody, but said the revenues have to be used to subsidize accommodation and buy daily necessities for the detained.