Handicraft workshop transforms into employment hub in Shandong’s district

The handicraft jewelry workshop promotes the re-employment and entrepreneurship of surplus women labor in Gaozhuang subdistrict, Laiwu district, Jinan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Efforts to empower more local residents with job opportunities and increased income have led to Gaozhuang subdistrict in Laiwu district, Jinan, Shandong province focusing on e-commerce this year.

As part of this initiative, a 3000-square-meter e-commerce training center was established.

The local government has partnered with Shandong Hantang Zhenpin Jewelry Co Ltd to set up a handicraft jewelry workshop in the center, which promotes the re-employment and entrepreneurship of surplus women labor from surrounding villages.

Qi Yanfei, a 36-year-old woman living in the village, used to be a homemaker. Now, she has been working in the workshop for six months, earning over 3,000 yuan (418 USD) per month. "I really enjoy this job. It not only improves our living standards but also promotes family harmony," Qi said.

"Workers can collect raw materials from the center, process them at home, or make them at the center, truly enabling local residents to find employment at their doorstep," introduced Bi Xuetang, who manages the Laiwu E-commerce Training Center.

So far, the workshop has provided employment opportunities for over 200 residents, increasing their monthly income by an average of 1,500 to 2,000 yuan.

In the next phase, the local government plans to conduct activities such as workshops and entrepreneurial exchanges based on the Laiwu E-commerce Training Center to effectively boost residents' wealth and collective income. (Edited by Li Weiwei)