Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang on Thursday called for more efforts to create jobs and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of employees.

Employment and labor rights protection have a lot to do with people's well-being and social stability, Zhang told ministerial and provincial level officials at a workshop on employment and harmonious labor relations in Beijing.

He acknowledged that China was still faced with a severe challenge of job creation and labor rights protection despite huge improvement over the past years.

He called on officials to minimize unemployment in their administrations and encouraged more labor-intensive companies in job creation.

Local governments should provide better services to college students graduating this summer to help them find jobs, and establish a long-term mechanism to assist those who have trouble in employment.

Zhang reminded the officials to make proper local regulations on the implementation of the labor contract law, which took effect on January 1 this year and has been regarded as a pro-employee legislation.

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2008)