China's reform and opening up has boosted the country's development of the rule of law and its legal system. But justice sometimes remains elusive for its vast number of migrant workers. Legal aid is crucial to help them win their cases. In today's special series Beyond the Wall, CGTN correspondent Han Bin goes to western China's Chongqing, where a lawyer has devoted decades to helping migrant workers get legal access, and ultimately, justice.

Chongqing is on a fast track of development, built on the labor of migrant workers. And one of them became a lawyer.

ZHOU LITAI FOUNDER, ZHOULITAI LAW FIRM "In many places where the economy is relatively backward, people have sacrificed the law, bodies and lives of workers to develop the economy. Such a cost is frightening."

20 years ago, Wang Guangcheng's dream of a better life was brutally smashed. A work accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. He desperately needs proper compensation. All money now goes to medical care and the bare necessities, leaving him out in the cold.

Lawyer Zhou Litai is his last hope in his fight for survival and dignity, and above all, justice. After so many years, he struggles to contain his anger.

ZHOU LITAI FOUNDER, ZHOULITAI LAW FIRM "As the economic slowdown grows more severe, the rights and interests of migrant workers are increasingly violated. There are channels for their appeals, and legal provisions to aid their appeals, but the infringement of their rights is becoming increasingly severe."

A lot of cases relate to the protection of workers' rights.

HAN BIN CHONGQING "Over the past years, China has been actively promoting legal protection for migrant workers. But the reality is that the rights of this vulnerable group are often difficult to secure. Any major breakthrough in enforcement won't come overnight."

Zhou Litai believes the rule of law needs real action. That belief keeps driving him on.

ZHOU LITAI FOUNDER, ZHOULITAI LAW FIRM "Duan Qinghan was a miner at a nearby state-owned coal mine. In 2004, he was diagnosed with third-stage silicosis. According to the provisions of the State Council's Work Injury Insurance Regulations at that time, he should have been compensated 700,000 yuan. But the mine gave him only 56,000 yuan. I think the agreement signed violated the law, so we sued to have it confirmed that the agreement at the time was invalid and asked the company for the proper amount."

"What was the result of the suit?"

"The claim was rejected by the District Court, mainly due to the intervention by the local government."

"How much chance is left to help him?"

"We now support him to appeal."

Zhou Litai has been regularly visiting Duan Qinghan, ever since he took the case last year. Duan used to work in a local mine for some 20 years. He was diagnosed lung disease in 2004.

"Why did you accept 56,000 yuan compensation?"

"I didn't understand the law. These are the records of materials you sent to the higher level authorities over the years, right?"

"Is it the verdict in 2017?"

"Yes."

"This must be the court ruling that he lost the case. What's your physical condition?"

"I need to take a break after three or two steps."

Some 200 workers were working with Duan at the mine. Three have already died.

ZHOU LITAI FOUNDER, ZHOULITAI LAW FIRM "To fundamentally change the situation of protecting the rights of migrant workers, the government needs to change the concept of management with much more emphasis on supervision. And the Workers Unions should play their due role. Enterprises should have consensus on people-oriented operations."

The stories of Wang Guangcheng and Duan Qinghan are just two of thousands. 

ZHOU LITAI FOUNDER, ZHOULITAI LAW FIRM  "The fact that Zhou Litai is famous for providing legal aid to migrant workers is a sad commentary on society."

Zhou Litai can't see a clear end for their cases, but even after two decades, he's not ready to give up. Han Bin, CGTN, Chongqing.