A special legal declaration was issued on March 24 by the intermediate people's court of Zibo – a city located in East China's Shandong province – aimed at strengthening judicial protection for small and medium-sized enterprises and individual entrepreneurs.
Containing a total of 15 specific protection measures, it covers various processes like pre-litigation mediations, filings and trials – as well as judicial services to assist with the resumption of production and the protection of business procedures during the COVID-19 epidemic.
The measure is said to protect the interests of businesses concerning litigation during the epidemic. It decrees that online services such as online filings and the internet court should be enforced and provides for workshops to provide regular legal advice.
Meanwhile, the declaration suggested that municipal government departments should provide a fast-track channel for the commercial disputes and offer judicial assistance, such as reducing or suspending litigation fees.
In addition, it has emphasized that justice should be kind and considerate, with the minimum impact on enterprises and that the implementation of default cases should be stepped up, to guarantee that businesses promptly receive financial compensation.
