Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju
Friday ordered various localities and departments to give more
priority to expanding employment in economic and social
development.
"Employment is the basis of people's livelihood and also a major
part of the building of a socialist harmonious society," Huang said
at a conference of the State Council on employment.
Huang called for continuous implementation of pro-employment
policies, raising the quality of workers and exploring the
establishment of a pro-employment mechanism of lasting effects.
Huang said China faces "heavy employment pressure in the coming
three to five years" because of rapid growth of working age
population, the task to find reemployment for laid-off workers and
accelerated shift of surplus rural laborers to urban areas.
He said the State Council has recently issued a circular on
further intensifying employment and reemployment work and a
decision on vigorously boosting vocational education.
"Both documents are centered on promoting employment," said
Huang. "They show the Communist Party of China Central Committee
and the State Council attach high-level importance to employment
work."
He ordered all localities and departments to ensure various
policies and measures are implemented concretely.
(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2005)