Employment, private kindergartens and small business taxes addressed

Private kindergartens 'still supported'

The Ministry of Education said on Feb 2 that it will continue to boost support for private kindergartens and encourage them to provide inclusive services.

The ministry said media reports that the country will no longer allow the development of private kindergartens were misleading, and it will continue to encourage investment in kindergartens.

As of 2017, about 63 percent of kindergartens nationwide were run by private entities, among which 43 percent were deemed to be providing inclusive services, the ministry said.

It added that it will encourage more private kindergartens to provide inclusive services. In the meantime, private kindergartens will be allowed to remain profit-oriented to meet public demand.

Tax benefit to boost small businesses

Chinese authorities have decided to grant a three-year tax benefit to encourage self-employment and hiring by small businesses.

The decision was jointly announced on Feb 2 by the Ministry of Finance, State Taxation Administration and two other government departments.

According to the decision, people in need who start a business can have 12,000 yuan ($1,790) a year deducted from their families' annual taxes over three years.

The preferential treatment will target four groups: those registered as members of poverty-stricken groups; people who have been jobless for more than half a year; those living on subsistence allowances; and recent graduates from higher education institutions.

Businesses that have hired individuals from the four groups and paid social insurance for them can also enjoy tax deductions of 6,000 yuan per person a year for three years.

Local governments at the provincial level can lift the tax relief by 30 percent at most, according to local conditions.