Students, migrants are the top priority

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-12-22  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

PREMIER Wen Jiabao has pledged to university students that the government would seek to provide more jobs for graduates and "put the issue of graduate employment first."

"Your difficulties are my difficulties, and if you are worried, I am more worried than you," Wen told the students at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics on Saturday.

He said the country is in a difficult period as the global financial crisis has continued affecting the country's real economy. The government has begun measures to sustain the economy, such as the 4-trillion-yuan (US$584 billion) stimulus package and interests cuts.

"We are considering taking more measures at proper time. But currently we are most concerned about two issues, migrant workers returning home and employment for graduates," Wen said.

The financial crisis and China's slowing economic growth have forced 4 million migrant workers to return to their rural homes, according to a report from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The report also said as of the end of this year, 1.5 million graduates are likely to have failed to find jobs, and the country could see an ever tougher employment situation in 2009 as there will be about 6.1 million seeking jobs.

"We are also studying a package to guarantee jobs for graduates and it will kick in soon," Wen said. "The government will encourage major enterprises to increase recruitment of graduates, seek more jobs in the grassroots, offer opportunities of further study and skills training."

Scientific research projects conducted by companies, institutions and universities should recruit graduates, and companies must not lay off graduates even if times are hard, he added.

Meanwhile, the State Council, China's Cabinet, has urged local governments to create job opportunities for migrant workers who have been laid off and have returned to their hometowns due to the impact of the global financial crisis.

The Cabinet said in a circular issued on Saturday that the migrant worker issue was a pressing and important task as it was related to the country's economic and social development.

With the New Year and Spring Festival approaching, a large number of migrant workers were returning home to rural areas. Governments should step up supervision on wage payment to ensure workers receive their wages in time, create more job opportunities and provide vocational training, the circular said.

Local governments should promote development of small and medium-size companies, labor-intensive and service industries to absorb migrant workers. They should also offer favorable policies to migrant workers who start businesses, said the Cabinet.

Banks should support the start-ups with loans on favorable terms. Tax offices should simplify procedures. Companies should try to avoid layoffs. Laid-off migrant workers should be given priority in employment plans of large infrastructure projects.

Social securities authorities should facilitate the settlement of domestic social insurance bills, and education departments should help arrange schools for migrant workers' children.