Generous incentives on offer for high-caliber talent in Zhuhai

Local government's new measures provide five times more funding than previously, exceeds most cities nationwide

The Zhuhai government released a new policy on Tuesday to attract more professionals to the coastal city in South China's Guangdong province.

The policy includes 16 items for different tiers of professionals, providing favorable terms and significant financial support. The city said it plans to invest more than 1 billion yuan ($158.65 million) in qualified professionals over the next five years, five times the amount provided in previous policies.

"As the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be operational soon and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is promoting economic development, Zhuhai now has heightened demand for personnel," said Luo Hong, deputy director of the organization department of Zhuhai municipal Party committee.

The new policy outlines the different categories of professionals so they can easily understand what level of funding they are eligible for, Luo said.

Top talent, such as academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, can receive 2 million yuan directly and 6 million yuan in housing subsidies if they work full time in Zhuhai.

According to the new policy, first, second and third-tier professionals can enjoy bonuses, housing subsidies and public funding totaling 3.3 million yuan, 2.3 million yuan and 1.6 million yuan each, respectively.

One of the significant features of the new policy is that it pays close attention to innovative companies. Innovative entrepreneurship teams will be provided with up to 100 million yuan in funding. Startups that have strong development potential are eligible for maximum funding of 5 million yuan for each.

The new policy also strengthens the support provided to skilled personnel. For example, the city will select Zhuhai Craftsmen and Zhuhai Chief Technicians as part of a competition initiative, providing subsistence allowances of 600,000 yuan and 300,000 yuan, respectively, to skilled workers who earn the prestigious titles. Teams who win the international, national and provincial-level competitions will receive up to 1 million yuan in funding.

"In addition to high-end professionals, the new policy also takes into consideration those with foundation skills, such as university students and young company staff," Luo said.

Graduates who want to work in Zhuhai within three years after leaving university can apply for a residence permit with their diploma and related documents.

According to the new policy, young skilled personnel in Zhuhai companies will be provided with a rental and subsistence allowance for two years. Among them, full-time employees with undergraduate degree aged under 30 years old and technicians aged under 40 will receive 26,000 yuan in total. Full-time workers with postgraduate degree aged under 35 and senior technicians aged under 45 will receive 38,000 yuan.

"Zhuhai has taken the lead nationwide in subsidizing graduates' and postgraduates' income," Luo said.

To encourage the younger generation to start their own businesses, Zhuhai will provide outstanding global startups run by young entrepreneurs with funds of 150,000 yuan to 1 million yuan. The most outstanding projects could receive up to 5 million yuan.

People with a doctorate degree or postdoctoral experience are the main forces behind innovation-driven development, so the new policy attaches great importance to them, according to the city government.

Zhuhai is also encouraging local enterprises to cultivate professionals in the fields of scientific research and development, and business management. These professionals are eligible for allowances of 60,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan.

Tian Jianhua, deputy director of the Zhuhai housing and urban-rural planning and construction bureau said that considering high housing prices in the city, the authorities are providing different policies for different tiers of personnel, including direct subsidies, housing loans and apartments.

The city plans to set up Zhuhai Anju, a company that will provide at least 30,000 houses for professionals in the next five years to solve housing issues.

The new policy also has plans for professionals from Hong Kong and Macao, who will enjoy the same benefits as locals when it comes to house purchase, children's education and medical service.

According to the Zhuhai government, the new policy makes breakthroughs in public service guarantees and extends high-quality medical service coverage to include professionals' relatives. The government has also promised to provide high-quality education opportunities for professionals' children.

caoyingying@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/27/2018 page7)