Policy Digest

Ministry strives to refine east-west worker flow

The General Office of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has issued a notice with two other departments calling for improved human resources collaboration between the country's eastern and western areas to promote rural vitalization and common prosperity.

The notice tasks provincial-level authorities with improving acquisition in the fields of labor services, brand building, skill training, the development of vocational schools and talent exchange.

Employment, skilled worker training and talent acquisition are key areas of concern for western Chinese regions, according to the notice.

Also, western areas should determine which residents lifted out of poverty want to work outside their hometowns, while eastern regions should explore the demands of local companies and publicize posts suited to migrant workers.

The notice urged regions to develop their own labor service brands to promote employment. It also encouraged western and eastern regions to dovetail the supply of and demand for domestic service workers.

In addition, the notice asked local authorities to make greater effort to provide work relief and called for the establishment of new vocational schools in western areas, among other measures.

Authorities in eastern areas should also encourage local vocational schools to cooperate with their western counterparts.

National campaign aims to reduce fire risks

The Office of the State Council's Work Safety Committee and the Ministry of Emergency Management have issued a notice announcing the launch of a nationwide campaign to reduce fire risks that will run through March.

The notice called on authorities to heighten efforts to prevent fires and root out major risks at labor-intensive companies by carrying out special inspections of companies and urging them to close safety loopholes, according to a statement released on the ministry's website.

Strict management to ensure the safety of electrogas welding was also mandated and the notice called for strictly punishing not only workers who violate safety codes, but also their employers.

Furthermore, authorities should continue to carry out the campaign to clear up blocked fire escapes and fire lanes.

They should take down iron bars, billboards and other objects that block the doors or windows of restaurants, hotels and other crowded places, and punish those who have blocked or locked up fire escapes in large shopping malls and other public spaces.

They should also address the issue of cars and other objects clogging roads leading to residential communities, the notice said.

Commercial pension program begins Jan 1

China will launch a one-year commercial pension trial program in 10 provinces and municipalities, including Beijing and Shanghai, on Jan 1. The program will be carried out by four pension companies.

According to a notice released on the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission's website earlier this month, companies should devise innovative commercial pension services to meet the varied needs of clients.

The notice tasked companies with making pension services accessible to more people, especially those working in emerging sectors or in flexible employment posts.

The national private pension plan was launched in 36 cities and regions in November. The commercial pension program is meant to supplement that plan, according to the commission.