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In this episode of Daxue Talks, Nicolas Coster, a French business lawyer based in Shanghai, discusses the new regulations that have followed the coronavirus crisis. Coster explains the consequences of quarantine and new regulations shaped by the coronavirus outbreak in China.

Full transcript below:

I am Nicolas Coster, I’m a French business lawyer. I’ve been in China for 16 years and specialized in foreign direct investment. So, basically, I set up companies in China.

What regulations have been created in China since the virus outbreak?

So, there are many new regulations. There are national regulations and there are local regulations. Local regulations depend on how many cases there are in the city. Nationally, there is, for example, a regulation that delays the tax declaration. We also have regulations of the China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission, there are also regulations from the Labor Office.

Most of the time these regulations are not mandatory. Nevertheless, it is mandatory not to dismiss an employee if he is sick. There are many local regulations like Shanghai’s issue for policy for beneficial measures. So, you really have to check the national and local regulations.

What specific regulations have been implemented in Shanghai to cope with the virus?

So, Shanghai has established the 4^th policy beneficial measures. So, Shanghai regulation says that it is forbidden to dismiss employees who are sick. If the labor contract is a fixed term and is going to expire, you have to extend the contract. There will also be social benefits to companies that minimize the dismissal of employees. In each district of Shanghai, you can also have special regulations. It can be for tax benefits in some districts.

What are the quarantine rules currently in China and Shanghai?

So, it depends where you come from and where you’re heading to. Of course, if you are from Wuhan you cannot travel. If you are in Shanghai, there is quarantine if you did not go to places where there are some cases of coronavirus. If this is the case, the police will call you and tell you that you are quarantine. So, the quarantine applies in most of the cities except Wuhan and it is 14 days. During this time, you are not allowed to go out. In Shanghai, there is a special device on your door that makes sure you cannot go out.

If you want to go out of Shanghai, it is possible. In this case, you will have to be quarantined on your way back. If you were already out and wanted to come back, you need to be able to prove that you are working or studying in Shanghai. If you are not able to prove that your life is in Shanghai, the police will stop you. The police will check your temperature, where you are coming from and where you are going.

If you come from a country where there are not many cases, there are no quarantine measures. Nevertheless, you should check where you come from. AT the airport, they will take your temperature, ask for your found number. If you lie on your personal situation, you can go to jail for 15 days.

Daxue Talks is a show powered by daxue consulting, a china-based strategic market research company founded in 2010! With Daxue Talks, you will stay up to date with all the latest business updates in China.

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