China on Tuesday published a regulation on determining workshop injuries, which will be effective on Jan. 1 of 2004.

Under the regulation issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the employers of the employee injured on duty should apply to the local labor and social security department for confirmation of workshop injuries on the same day the workshop incident happens, while the time limit for those diagnosed with occupational diseases is within 30 days of the diagnosis.

But the valid time limit for the application will be one year if the applicants are the employees with factory injuries, or trade union organizations, according to the regulation.

Labor and social security departments should send at least two public servants to investigate the application, and determine within 60 days upon receiving the application, it said.

The applicants may apply to the labor department for reappraisal or sue them if they do not agree with the decisions made by the departments, it stipulates.

(China Daily October 2, 2003)