China is still facing a tough employment task this year, given
the emergence of more laid-off workers and new job-seekers, said
Tian Chengping, minister of Labor and Social Security, on
Tuesday.
Enterprises, under deepened reforms, will lay off more workers,
who have difficulties to find new jobs, Tian said at a press
conference held on the sidelines of the annual session of the
National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.
Moreover, about 4.95 million students will graduate from
universities to enter the job market this year and rural surplus
laborers will continue to swarm into cities for work, Tian
said.
As steps to alleviate the employment strain, the government will
further boost economic development to create more jobs and carry
out relevant fiscal, tax and financial policies to promote
employment, he said.
The government will also strengthen training for all kinds of
job seekers and help bridge contacts between job hunters and
employers, he added.
The Chinese government has always attached great importance to
the employment work due to the country's huge population.
Last year, more than 11.8 million urban residents got new jobs,
hitting a record high, driven by a 10.7-percent GDP (gross domestic
product) rise.
"We will try to help at least 9 million urbanites to find jobs
this year," Tian said, adding Chinese cities will have 24 million
new job seekers this year.
"To be more optimistic, we will strive to get 12 million urban
people to find jobs, if calculating job positions left by new
retirees," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2007)
