As of yesterday, more than 60,000 laid-off workers and surplus farmers have applied to the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau for jobs offered as part of a program to create 100,000 new positions by 2005.
But few of the applicants are willing to apply for service jobs, which many in the city don't consider honorable work for anyone but migrants from the countryside.
More than 80 percent of applicants have applied for social management positions -- such as assistants to labor inspectors, tax-collectors and traffic police.
Few have shown any interest, however, in taking work as gardeners, care givers for elders and disabled residents, or cleaners, bureau officials said.
Nearly 97 percent of the 3,000 people who applied for positions at a job placement center in Putuo District have said they are only interested in the social management jobs.
A position assisting tax collectors is the most popular job among applicants.
"Many applicants target management positions due to their relatively high salaries," said Li Jianmin, director of the placement center.
The program will pay social management workers 1,000 yuan (US$120) a month, while those taking service jobs will only take home 800 yuan per month.
But most of the applicants are more worried about the social stigma of working in the service industry than they are about the low salaries, Li said yesterday.
"I'm applying to become a tax-collection assistant because it doesn't require much physical labor," said Ma Yongfa, 59, who has been unemployed for two years.
Though unemployed, many local laid-off workers are still particular about what sort of job they are willing to accept.
Service positions -- such as domestic helpers or waiters -- are generally considered disgraceful and only suitable for migrant workers.
This strange bias is responsible for the serious imbalance in the number of applicants for service jobs compared to social management positions, said Sheng Zuhuan, vice director of the bureau's employment division.
(eastday.com February 5, 2004)
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