Migrant workers in China comprise the bulk of the population in many urban centers. (Photo : Reuters)
Many Chinese citizens have grievances that can go unattended because, not only that they do not trust the government agencies that help them handle these, they cannot also afford to pay the handsome fees being offered by private legal offices.
In Nanjing Road W. neighborhood of Shanghai's downtown Jing'an District, however, citizens have the option of getting professional legal help without paying for anything.
The Fumin Legal Service Center, which was established back in 2013, is the nonprofit organization that citizens of Jing'an could go to on when they need legal help. The organization is designed to provide them with free legal and mediation services. Anyone can avail the services, no matter what their stature is or the nature of their problems.
The free services proved much-needed and widely popular, with the center responding to 997 requests for help in 2014. Most of its clients are migrants.
According to lawyer and centre director Jiang Tao, migrant workers make up a vulnerable group of people in China. Majority of them encounter problems and legal issues at work and they need representatives to help them fight for their rights.
One migrant worker who benefitted from Fumin's service lauded the center for its unique handling of cases.
"They focus more on the feasibility of appeal, and we look for all possible ways to help both parties settle their dispute," Jiang said.
"There are limitations of time and caseload in the governmental legal aid programs," Jiang added, "and some people doubt the impartiality of lawyers from government programs in cases involving government agencies."
