China has undertaken efforts to enhance the evaluation of skilled workers, aiming to standardize the development of skilled talent and provide them with clearer, more scientific and fairer career advancement pathways.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has drafted specific administrative regulations concerning the evaluation of skilled workers. These regulations were unveiled on Thursday and are now open for public opinion until Dec 12.
According to the draft regulations, skilled workers are defined as individuals who possess professional knowledge and skills and apply them in practice during their work.
The evaluation of skilled workers encompasses an assessment of their work ethics, knowledge, skill level and job performance. Usually, the evaluation includes theoretical examination and operational skills assessment.
According to the draft, professionals are defined and categorized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and listed in a national directory. Companies, universities, vocational schools and social organizations can evaluate individuals' skill levels but must report their qualifications to provincial human resources authorities for record-keeping.
The draft emphasizes that skills evaluation organizations should not mislead workers with false information or exaggerated advertising, nor engage in fraud, leak exam content, facilitate cheating, or illegally sell personal information gathered during evaluations.
Also, no organization or individual is allowed to falsify or sell professional qualification or skill certificates. Skills assessment organizations should not conduct training programs related to their evaluations.
The draft also states penalties and potential civil or criminal liability for individuals and organizations that violate the regulations, depending on the nature of their actions.
"Since 2019, skills evaluation has shifted from authorities to social units, significantly energizing the market. The diversity and number of skilled professionals have grown with industrial prosperity. However, challenges remain, such as the inconsistent quality of evaluation organizations," noted Cheng Xiezhong, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law.
He said that both central and local governments have taken exploratory steps to regulate the evaluation of skilled individuals and the management of certifications. However, there is still a lack of a unified higher-level law at the national level. The draft regulations will fill the gap and help establish a legal framework for such work.
Li Fucheng, a professor of the School of Humanities and Social Science of the University of Science and Technology Beijing, said that skills talent evaluation is closely related with vocational education, skills training and people's employment, showing people's working value.
"The draft regulations will bolster the credibility of skilled talent evaluation through stringent measures," he remarked, adding that these regulations will incentivize workers to enhance their skills and offer robust legal support for the nation's development of a top-class skilled workforce.
Figures unveiled by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security show that the nation so far has over 220 million skilled workers, among whom 72 million are highly skilled.
