Helping laid-off workers and unemployed people find jobs is a crucial and pressing task facing the Chinese government, President Jiang Zemin stressed yesterday.

At a Beijing-based national conference on re-employment, Jiang said despite the achievements that have already been made, employment will be an onerous issue for China in the long run.

He said assisting the unemployed to find jobs, which has become a significant social and economic matter, was at the core of the issue.

Jiang called for local governments to create work that is suitable for the jobless, in light of the country's economic and social development.

He said developing the service sector in communities should be given priority as many job opportunities existed in the field.

To help laid-off workers to become re-employed, thoughtful job introduction and guidance must be offered, according to Jiang.

Importance should also be attached to vocational training so the unemployed can grasp techniques that will lead to their finding work.

The president said government funds and policies should target the most needy and job opportunities developed by the government should mainly be offered to that group.

Governments and companies should continue to raise funds to support laid-off workers who are having difficulties making a living.

"More job opportunities should also be offered to laborers from rural areas and they should be treated fairly, guided reasonably and offered good services," Jiang said.

"The legal interests and rights of laborers should be protected and the transfer of surplus laborers in rural areas to non-agriculture sectors should be enhanced."

Looking to the future, he said creating more jobs by developing the Chinese economy is the basic solution to unemployment.

The social security system in China should be upgraded so there is a guarantee for more unemployed people to find jobs, the president said.

He said a way needed to be found so employment opportunities can be increased while rapid and healthy economic development is ensured.

Jiang said: "The country should speed up the fostering and development of the labor market, improve the service system for employment and establish an employment system that's based on the market and guided by the principle that laborers will find jobs of their own."

(China Daily September 13, 2002)