II. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

In 2009 and 2010, the state took effective measures and worked hard to improve the people's livelihood, strengthening the guarantee of people's economic, social and cultural rights. Most targets set in the Action Plan for ensuring these rights were fulfilled ahead of schedule or over-fulfilled.

(1) Right to work

During those two years, an additional 22.7 million urban workers were employed and 19.39 million rural laborers moved to cities or towns and found jobs there, 26.1 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively, above the targets set in the Action Plan. By the end of 2010, the registered urban unemployment rate was 4.1 percent, lower than the target (5 percent) set in the Action Plan. Labor contracts were signed among 97 percent of enterprises above a designated size, and 65 percent of small enterprises. The state investigated and dealt with 819,000 cases in violation of social security-related laws, in which employers had failed to sign labor contracts, or did not pay workers promptly, or did not participate in social insurance in accordance with the law.

The state adopted a series of measures to strengthen labor protection and protect the lives of workers. During the two years, the State Administration of Work Safety carried out the "Year of Safe Production" activity and an educational campaign on the Law on Production Safety and the Notice of the State Council on Further Enhancing Work Safety in Enterprises, to enhance people's awareness of work safety. The Regulations on Coal Mine Leaders Leading Shifts Underground and on Safety Supervision and Examination, General Norms for Safety Production Standardization of Enterprises, and 70 other departmental rules and regulations were issued in succession. Over 100 safety production standards and coal industry standards were formulated and revised. Special actions were carried out to combat illegal production, operation and construction. By 2010, about two million illegal acts had been investigated and dealt with across the country, over 33,400 companies and projects that had been engaged in illegal production and operation had been closed or cancelled in accordance with the law, and 13.563 million hidden dangers had been eliminated.

The People's Mediation Law and Organizational Rules on the Arbitration of Labor and Personnel Disputes were issued to help solve labor disputes fairly and promptly, and promote harmonious and stable labor relations. At present, throughout the country there are over 14,000 tripartite organizations for labor relations coordination at all levels, about 534,000 labor dispute mediation organizations, and over two million mediators.

(2) Right to basic living conditions

In 2010, the per capita disposable income of urban residents reached 19,109 yuan, 3,328 yuan more than the targeted 15,781 yuan in the Action Plan. All provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government raised minimum wages.

The living conditions of poor people were improved. In early 2009 the state raised the poverty line to 1,196 yuan, below which were 40.07 million people. By the end of 2010 the number of the impoverished population had decreased to 26.88 million, 13.19 million less than that at the end of 2008; the poverty incidence dropped from 4.2 percent in 2008 to 2.8 percent in 2010; and the per capita net income of farmers in 592 key counties for state poverty alleviation and development grew from 2,611 to 3,273 yuan. During the two years, the state improved conditions in 37,800 key poverty-stricken villages, and provided pre-employment training for 2,643,000 impoverished laborers.

The housing conditions of urban residents, particularly middle- and low-income families, were improved. From the fourth quarter of 2008 to the end of 2010, the state invested over 1.3 trillion yuan in low-income housing projects, and started constructing 13 million apartments for low-income housing and run-down area re-development, with eight million completed, solving housing difficulties for over eight million low- and below-middle-income urban families. In 2010, by providing rent subsidies, the state improved the housing conditions of nearly four million low-income urban families. During 2009 and 2010, the State Council issued the Regulations on the Requisition of Buildings on State-owned Land and Compensation, the Urgent Notice on Strengthening the Management of Land Expropriation, Housing Demolition and Resident Relocation and Safeguarding the People's Legitimate Rights and Interests, and some other administrative regulations and policies, regulating the requisition of buildings and the management of land expropriation, housing demolition and resident relocation. In 2009 the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance allocated 10 billion yuan as subsidies for rural housing rebuilding.

The system of subsistence allowances was improved. During the two years, the Ministry of Civil Affairs distributed the Notice on Strengthening the Work of Identifying Urban Residents Entitled to Basic Living Allowances, Guidelines on Regulating the Work of Allocating Rural Basic Living Allowances and some other related documents. In 2010, the central government allocated 36.55 billion yuan as subsistence allowances in urban areas, an increase of 12.5 percent over the previous year, and 26.9 billion yuan as subsistence allowances in rural areas, an increase of 24.5 percent over the previous year.