China will implement a new regulation to promote employment opportunities for the country's 83 million disabled people.

The regulation, issued last month by the State Council, China's cabinet, requires that disabled people make up no less than 1.5 percent of the work force of government departments, enterprises, and institutions.

Disabled employees must be given equal promotion opportunities, equal salaries and equal social insurance, according to the regulation, which comes into effect on May 1.

Statistics show that China has 82.96 million disabled people but only 22.66 million are employed. More than 8.58 million employable disabled people have no jobs, and that number increases by 300,000 a year.

Government departments, institutions, and enterprises that employ more disabled people will have access to preferential tax and other policies, said the regulation.

Self-employed disabled will be offered small loans when starting their own businesses, and also receive preferential treatment in tax and other management and registration charges, according to the regulation.

Disabled people living in rural areas are encouraged to engage in cultivation, stock raising, and handicraft industries, and will be given technical, material, and financial support.

Funds to promote employment among disabled people and to provide them with employment training and services will be part of the government budget, the regulation says.

Organizations providing employment services to the disabled should offer free information, training, and job introduction services. Success will be measured by statistics compiled by these organizations.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2007)