The Chinese government will exert more efforts to promote full
and decent employment along with the International Labor
Organization, says the consensus reached at the China Employment
Forum that closed in Beijing Friday.
During the three-day forum, participants from over 20 countries
held heated discussions over issues concerning employment, gender,
rural labor force and the building of fair labor force market.
"China will give more priority to employment in policy making,"
said Zheng Silin, China's labor minister at the closing ceremony of
the forum.
Experts at the forum said that China's over-heated pursuit of
economic growth in the past decade has caused imbalanced
development, including the high unemployment rate against the fast
economic growth.
The government will adjust its strategy of development to
realize coordinated development of economy and employment, said the
minister.
"We must make good use of the advantages of rich labor force and
give a stronger drive to labor-intensive industry as well as small
and medium-sized enterprises," said Zheng.
As system barriers in labor market has blocked the promotion of
employment in China, the participants suggested the building of a
unified and fair labor market.
More efforts should go to improve policy on labor market and
build a unified labor market, says the consensus.
"The government should play a better role in exercising
macro-control over the labor market and strengthening the building
of a public service system," said Zheng Silin
Meanwhile, the official also urged more protection for the
disadvantaged groups in the society including women, disabled and
elderly people suffering the most from unemployment.
Small enterprises should have a better outer environment for
further development as they could create more job opportunities,
says the consensus. China's central bank Governor Zhou
Xiaochuan also suggested at the forum the banks grant small
enterprises more loans.
As most of the laid-off workers and surplus rural labor force
waiting to enter the cities do not have any skills, the consensus
emphasizes training of laborers.
Moreover, a wide social security system is also needed to
enlarge the employment, says the consensus.
The forum, which attracted over 600 participants from over 20
countries, is the first forum of the kind in China.
(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2004)