State Council announces new policies to further promote employment

The State Council, China's Cabinet, unveiled a batch of new policies on Wednesday to promote employment further, stabilize the market and achieve the economic goal, aiming to create a stable job market and high-quality economic development.

Under a notice issued by the State Council on Wednesday, a series of stronger financial incentives will be available to employers, such as returning them higher proportion of unemployment insurance payment if they meet certain standards.

Employers having difficulty continuing their businesses can apply to defer payments of pension, unemployment and work-related injury insurance and no overdue fine will be charged over the deferral period.

Small and medium-sized companies in the nation's key industries, such as modern manufacturing and new energy, will get social insurance subsidies after they hire people from key groups — usually college graduates, migrant workers and demobilized military members — and sign standard labor contracts of at least one year. The company will be responsible for applying for the subsidy and giving it back to employees promptly.

Companies and social organizations hiring registered jobless young people, aged between 16 and 24, and having signed standard labor contracts and paid them social insurance for at least three months will get one-time subsidies from the government. The subsidy will be up to 1,500 yuan ($209) per person and will be for the employers. The subsidy is available until December this year.

County-level authorities are encouraged to start some construction programs focusing on urban-rural integration and countryside development, thus providing jobs to the laid-offs and migrant workers.

Skills training is highlighted in the notice. The government will give stronger financial support to companies to encourage them to organize skills training programs for their workers. Vocational colleges and schools are encouraged to relax age limits for new students and to enroll laid-off youths or migrant workers desiring to improve their professional competence.

Government of all levels are required to optimize job services to both employers and job seekers. To those college graduates with difficulties of landing jobs due to physical or financial problems, local human resources bureaus should recommend them high-quality job openings or internship and give them guidance on seeking jobs.

Under the notice, local authorities are required to secure basic livings of registered laid-offs and people who haven't been employed for at least one year by giving them unemployment insurance. Employment aid or assistance should be available to people without a job for a long time because of age or disability.

Government of all levels should also strengthen employment data collection and analysis to get a more comprehensive picture of the job market. Employment should be prioritized by the government, who should analyze the impact the new policies will bring to the job market before releasing new policies or programs, and get prepared for potential unemployment risks.

Government of all levels are also required to tighten supervision over the use of employment funds and prevent illegal practices of cheating or fraudulent application for the funds.