Chinese workers earning less than the local living allowance will
soon be categorized as unemployed and will be encouraged to find
new jobs, according to a new classification by the Ministry of
Labour and Social Security.
It
stresses that people with little income will be viewed the same as
those who do not have jobs.
"If you cannot earn more than the basic living allowance given by
the local governments, you will be regarded as unemployed, said a
Ministry of Labour and Social Security official, who would only
give his surname as Liu.
Liu said China's unemployment rate for the first quarter of the
year was more than 4.1 per cent. The figure would have been much
higher if people earning less than the basic living allowance were
taken into account.
"Our main aim is not merely to refine the concept,'' Liu said.
"Even if people only end up working two or three hours a day, they
will be encouraged to seek more work.
Liu said working casually or part-time was better than doing
nothing and it should enhance their chances to find more worthwhile
work.
An
unnamed official with the ministry's press office said the central
government had approved the measure, which would be fully revealed
soon.
Beijing and Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, have
been using the classification since last year.
Latest official statistics show the number of registered unemployed
in China's urban areas had reached 7.75 million people by the end
of March, 0.75 million more than the same period last year.
As
forecast, the number of unemployed people will increase this
year.
Analysis by the ministry shows that due to intensified structural
adjustment, some badly performing enterprises have withdrawn from
the job market. This contributes to an increased number of
unemployed people.
Another reason is there are a lot more people looking for work. The
number of graduates this year will increase by 0.67 million over
2002's figure, pushing up the unemployment rate accordingly.
(China Daily May 9, 2003)