Policy Digest

Guideline to help assess health of e-bike batteries

A guideline has been issued on assessing the health of lithium-ion batteries used in electric bikes to lower fire risks.

Jointly released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Fire and Rescue Administration, the guideline sets out specific circumstances where batteries should be scrapped as well as methods to assess battery health.

Requirements have also been specified for entities to assess battery health.

China is a major country in terms of producing and using electric bikes, and the proportion of electric bikes using lithium batteries is increasing, the ministry said in a statement, adding that the batteries risk causing accidents if they are used improperly.

The guideline will promote convenient and professional services to assess battery health, help people better understand the conditions of the batteries in their electric bikes and detect hazards in time, the ministry said.

Manufacturing sector to enjoy better HR services

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and four other departments have released a guideline on strengthening human resources services to promote the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry.

The guideline, which contains a series of measures, calls for pilot projects for the "integrated development of human resources services and advanced manufacturing" in regions where there is a sound industrial base.

It supports leading manufacturing companies, human resources service institutions, universities and research institutions in establishing "associations for innovation", and encourages the nurturing of human resources service providers that focus on the manufacturing industry.

The guideline said efforts should be sped up to develop talent markets that meet the needs of different manufacturing sectors, adding that human resources service institutions should set up employment consortiums with companies, industrial associations, industrial parks and advanced-manufacturing clusters to ease shortages in the workforce.

It also calls for international exchanges and cooperation on human resources with a focus on countries that participate in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Ministry urges improving teachers' well-being

The Ministry of Education, together with six other departments, has issued a document to further improve the mental well-being of teachers.

Local educational authorities should provide a free checkup for teachers every year, and offer mental health lectures and services on a regular basis, according to the document.

It encourages museums, parks, cultural relics sites and scenic sites to offer discounted tickets for teachers, and companies to offer discounts to teachers buying everyday products and other consumer goods such as home appliances, computer software memberships and cars.

It supports public transportation systems in regions that have the right conditions to offer discounts to teachers.

Eligible teachers should be included in affordable housing policies, the document said.

The Education Ministry calls for local authorities to solve practical problems and challenges for teachers, so as to raise teachers' satisfaction toward their career and hence attract more people to become devoted teachers.