NPC to vote on draft decision on online info protection

The top legislature will vote on a draft decision on strengthening the protection of online information protection, as well as a proposed revision to the Labor Contract Law, at the end of its bimonthly session on Friday.

The decision was made at a meeting of the chairman and vice chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday. The meeting was presided over by Chairman Wu Bangguo.

The draft decision, which aims to enhance the protection of personal information online, proposes the adoption of an identity management policy requiring Internet users to identify themselves to service providers, while allowing them to use other names when posting material publicly.

The draft decision says authorities will protect digital information that could be used to determine the identity of a user or that concerns a user's privacy.

The draft decision to revise the Labor Contract Law, which is undergoing its second reading at the session, aims to ensure that workers hired through labor contracting agents get the same treatment as directly recruited employees.

A draft decision on a pilot reform program in south China's Guangdong province to limit administrative power by suspending or adjusting a list of governmental examination and approval items will also be put to a vote.

Draft revisions to the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly and the Law on Funds for Investment in Securities also await adoption on Friday.

At Thursday's meeting, NPC vice chairman Li Jianguo reported a draft decision on convening the first annual session of the 12th NPC early next year and a proposal on candidates for the electoral committee of the People's Liberation Army, submitted by the Central Military Commission.

Before being put to a vote, all of the drafts will undergo further deliberation and revisions based on the opinions of the members of the NPC Standing Committee.