Detainees awaiting trial will no longer be forced to work at China's detention houses, thanks to a breakthrough being heralded by lawyers as legal progress in protecting their legitimate rights.

The change is outlined in a draft regulation published yesterday on the central government's website (gov.cn).

Public opinion is currently being sought on the idea till the end of this month.

The seven-article regulation with 39 clauses was drafted by the Ministry of Public Security and released by the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, the country's cabinet.

The regulation stipulates that detention houses, where presumed-innocent people are held prior to their court proceedings, must safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of detainees.

The changes seek to better regulate the management of detention houses in general, which have long been accused of ignoring the legal rights of detainees.

Under the draft regulation, inmates will also be spared the task of having to supervise other detainees.

The current regulations governing detention houses were implemented in 1990. The existing rules do not explicitly say detainees should not be forced to work.

In addition, government budgets must cover the full cost of housing detainees and include such items as the cost of food. Detention houses and police officers working there are no longer allowed to charge fees against detainees.