BEIJING: China has made continuous efforts to provide more employment opportunities to improve people’s lives and strengthen social security amid the challenges posed by the nation’s large workforce and overall employment figures, according to the head of a government department.
Since 2012, China has implemented a strategy that prioritizes employment and promotes supportive policies, Wang Xiaoping, minister of human resources and social security, told People’s Daily recently.
The average number of urban jobs created each year has reached 13 million, with over 30 million laborers finding work outside their regions. Despite increasing economic pressures and complex external environments, China, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, has maintained overall stability in employment nationwide, she said.
In addition, efforts have been made to accelerate the construction of the world’s largest social security network. The number of people enrolled in pension, unemployment and work-related injury insurance plans has increased steadily, with benefits increasing consistently. Pension benefits for retirees have doubled since 2012, and substantial improvements have been made to unemployment benefits and work-related injury compensation. “These efforts have provided crucial support for improving livelihoods, economic development and social harmony,” Wang said. Faced with complex domestic and international challenges, government departments have taken proactive steps this year, implementing a series of policies and measures to improve employment. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
