Control of water pollution and protection of laborers' legitimate rights and interests will be given priority on the supervision list of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), this year.

The NPC Standing Committee will hear and deliberate the special work reports of the State Council, or the cabinet, on progress in efforts to prevent and control water pollution, and inspect the implementation of the environmental impact assessment law this year, promoting efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions, top legislator Wu Bangguo said on Saturday.

Wu, chairman of the 10th NPC Standing Committee, made the remarks while delivering a report on his committee's work over the past five years.

"We must ... fully implement the law on oversight and put the focus of oversight on serious problems that affect overall reform, development and stability, that have an impact on social harmony and that cause great resentment among the masses," Wu said while outlining the major tasks of the NPC Standing Committee for this year.

In addition to making laws, the NPC's oversight of the State Council, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate is another important duty and power granted to the NPC and its Standing Committee by the Constitution and laws.

"We need to truly protect the lawful rights and interests of workers and ensure the healthy growth of children by inspecting the implementation of the labor contract law, the compulsory education law and the law on the protection of minors," Wu told nearly 3,000 legislators at the ongoing NPC annual session.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2008)