China to enhance health and safety protections for firefighters and rescue workers

Firefighters and rescue workers will receive stronger health safeguards, with routine physical exams and mental health support provided as needed, an official from China's top legislature announced on Monday while introducing a draft law.

Huang Haihuai, spokesman for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, emphasized, "As the primary emergency response force, firefighters and rescue personnel face high risks on the job, so the draft law will provide enhanced occupational and health protection."

The draft law on national fire and rescue workers will be further reviewed during an upcoming session of the NPC Standing Committee, scheduled to be held from Tuesday to Friday in Beijing. Huang noted that the draft will also propose a rest and leave framework specifically for the fire and rescue profession, ensuring that personnel can enjoy statutory entitlements, including annual leave and home-visit leave.

During the session, Chinese lawmakers will continue to work on several other legislative items, including reviewing draft revisions to the Trademark Law and deliberating a draft amendment to the Certified Public Accountants Law. Draft revisions to the government procurement law, the public bidding law, and the Law on the People's Bank of China are also planned for deliberation, along with reviews of draft laws on procuratorial public-interest litigation and on Antarctic activities and environmental protection.

Additionally, Chinese lawmakers will review a report on the central government's final accounts for 2025 and an audit report on the execution of the central government's 2025 budget and other fiscal revenue and expenditure, according to a decision made at a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee.