Read in Chinese
Speakers:
Mr. Li Zhong, vice minister of human resources and social security
Mr. Lu Aihong, spokesperson of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) and director general of the Policy Research Department of the MOHRSS
Mr. Song Xin, deputy director general of the Employment Promotion Department of the MOHRSS
Chairperson:
Ms. Shou Xiaoli, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO
Date:
Sept. 24, 2024
Shou Xiaoli:
Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO), as part of the series "Promoting High-Quality Development." Today, we have invited Mr. Li Zhong, vice minister of human resources and social security, to brief you on relevant developments and to take your questions. Also present today are Mr. Lu Aihong, spokesperson of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) and director general of the Policy Research Department of the MOHRSS; and Mr. Song Xin, deputy director general of the Employment Promotion Department of the MOHRSS.
Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Li for his introduction.
Li Zhong:
Friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I am very pleased to attend this press conference. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude for your continued interest in and support for the developments in the human resources and social security sector.
In advancing Chinese modernization, we prioritize people's wellbeing. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to ensuring and improving people's wellbeing, responding to people's new expectations for a better life, and arranging and promoting a series of major targeted and high value-added reforms to ensure a more complete and lasting sense of fulfillment, happiness and security for our people. In terms of employment, we continue to insist that employment is the most basic component of the people's wellbeing, advocate the employment-first strategy, enrich and develop a proactive employment policy, and improve relevant systems. The average annual number of newly-added urban jobs in China is 13 million, and the number of employed individuals from poverty-stricken backgrounds remains stable at over 30 million, maintaining overall stability in the employment sector. In terms of social security, we have brought the development of the social security system onto a fast track and successfully built the world's largest social security network. We have strengthened the top-level design, and continuously improved the basic old-age insurance, unemployment insurance and work-related injury insurance. We work to see that everyone has access to social security, and the number of insured people has continued to rise. We have steadily increased various social security benefits, continued to expand the scale of fund surplus, and continuously optimized management services. All these have laid a solid foundation for improving the people's wellbeing, economic development and social harmony.
The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively, improving the people's quality of life, and emphasizing that ensuring and enhancing the people's wellbeing in the course of development is one of the major tasks of Chinese modernization. Focusing on ensuring and improving the people's wellbeing, it clarified a series of major reforms such as improving the employment-first policy and social security system, and gradually raising the statutory retirement age. The MOHRSS will adhere to the people-centered reforms, develop sound mechanisms for promoting high-quality and full employment, and improve the multi-tiered social security system that covers the entire population in urban and rural areas and see that it is fair, unified, reliable, well-regulated, and sustainable. We will ensure the implementation of reforms with relentless perseverance, and make positive contributions to high-quality development.
That is all for my introduction. Now, my colleagues and I are ready to answer your questions. Thank you.
Shou Xiaoli:
Thank you, Mr. Li. The floor is now open for questions. Please state the name of the news organization you represent before asking your question.
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China News Service:
Stabilizing and promoting employment has always been a major issue of public concern. What are our current considerations for promoting high-quality and full employment? Thank you.
Li Zhong:
Thank you for your question. Employment is the most basic component to people's well-being. The CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to this matter of wide public concern. The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has explicitly prioritized the development of sound mechanisms to promote high-quality and full employment as one of the major reform tasks. We will remain committed to promoting high-quality and full employment, making it a new position and mission for ensuring employment in the new era and new journey. We will implement a principle of promoting self-reliant employment, market-regulated employment, government-backed employment and entrepreneurship, adopting an employment-first strategy and strengthening an employment-first policy. By deepening the reform to the employment mechanism and institution, we are aiming to effectively improve the quality of employment and promote its growth within a reasonable range. To be more specific, our priorities are as follows:
First, strengthen an employment-first approach. We'll make promoting high-quality and full employment a top priority in economic and social development. To achieve this, we will actively coordinate employment policies with macroeconomic policies, such as fiscal and monetary policies, to better leverage the role of development in boosting employment. While striving to modernize the industrial system, we'll prioritize support to industries and enterprises which are able to create more jobs, and create new employment opportunities in the process of replacing old growth drivers. We'll also step up efforts with creating more job opportunities by adopting key policies, launching major projects and optimizing the allocation of major productive forces.
Second, tackle structural unemployment. In response to the new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation, we'll establish a mechanism to forecast demand for human resources and enhance surveys on employment posts in order to release catalogs of in-demand occupations and those with labor shortages in a timely manner. By doing so, we'll enhance the farsightedness of the development of human resources. Moreover, we'll strengthen the workforce's capabilities by focusing on education, training and employment in a coordinated manner. To this end, we'll improve the system of lifelong vocational training and further implement an action plan to foster more skilled workers, launching the program to enhance workforce skills for enterprises.
Third, improving the policy support system for key groups. We'll always prioritize the employment of college graduates and young people, and strengthen fiscal support, tax policy support and financial support. We'll intensify efforts to create more jobs and provide opportunities for young people to work at primary level to cultivate talents, and will enhance the alignment of services on and off campus, thus ensuring the overall stability of youth employment. We'll encourage people to seek jobs both in other places and close to their homes as well as foster labor-service brands and improve the service system for migrant workers, stabilizing the employment of migrant workers from rural areas, especially those being lifted out of poverty. We will smooth the channels for unemployed people and those facing difficulties with employment so they can seek assistance, thus improving mechanisms that offer them support.
Fourth, encourage employment and entrepreneurship. On the one hand, we will improve the public service system for employment and ensure a unified and regulated market system for human resources. By doing so, we're aiming to ensure employment services become more accessible, equitable and specialized. On the other hand, we will improve the system for creating jobs by encouraging business startups, optimizing the support system for business startups that covers training programs, business incubators and other relevant activities. We will optimize a comprehensive package of measures, including policy support, provision of workspaces and resource matching, to enhance the quality of entrepreneurship.
Fifth, create a fair environment for employment. We'll improve labor laws and regulations, enhance labor relation consultations and mediation, and improve social security system, so as to protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers. We will intensify market supervision and regulation, as well as strengthen oversight and enforcement of labor protection laws, in order to address such issues as employment discrimination, wage arrears, lack of employment insurance and illegal layoffs. In this way, we'll ensure channels of social mobility. Thank you.
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Nanfang Daily, Nanfang Plus:
There's concern about employment of college graduates and young people. What measures will be adopted to boost youth employment? Thank you.
Li Zhong:
It's important to promote youth employment, and I'd like to invite Mr. Song to share more information about the specific measures in this regard.
Song Xin:
Thank you for your question. The employment of college graduates and other young people is a top priority in promoting employment. This year, the MOHRSS has worked with relevant departments to release a new package of employment policies to develop job opportunities, provide employment services and offer assistance for those facing employment difficulties. Going forward, we'll focus on efforts that offer employment services to unemployed college graduates, and intensify our endeavors to implement policies, facilitate job matching as well as improve abilities, so as to boost youth employment and entrepreneurship.
First, we will establish a real-name work ledger system. This initiative will focus on unemployed new college graduates, registered unemployed youth, and others to comprehensively gather personal information, job-seeking needs, and employment status. Simultaneously, the MOHRSS's website and other platforms have launched job-seeking registration mini-programs. Unemployed graduates can register through these programs and be incorporated into the real-name ledger.
Second, we will implement the "1131" concentrated service initiative. For unemployed youth in the real-name ledger, we will provide at least one policy briefing, one career guidance session, three job recommendations, and one skill training or internship opportunity to promote their swift employment.
Third, we will implement one-on-one assistance for those facing difficulties. For graduates from families living on subsistence allowances and poverty-alleviated households, disabled graduates, and young people facing prolonged unemployment, we will organize paired assistance. We will implement a "one person, one policy" approach, prioritizing guidance services, job recommendations, and training and internships for these individuals.
Fourth, we will conduct a series of targeted recruitment activities. Recently, we launched a special joint recruitment initiative for college graduates in large- and medium-sized cities. Following the National Day holiday, we plan to organize additional services, including the Golden Autumn Recruitment Month. Furthermore, local authorities will carry out a number of specialized, industry-specific, and regional recruitment drives. These efforts are aimed at promoting employment opportunities for college graduates and other young job seekers. Thank you!
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CCTV:
At present, the public has many new expectations regarding social security. Could you please explain how reforms in the social security sector will be further deepened? Thank you.
Li Zhong:
Thank you for your question. Let me address this. Social security serves as both a safety net for people's lives and a stabilizer for society. It's a major issue for national governance and stability. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the construction of China's social security system has accelerated, achieving historic achievements and undergoing historic changes. First, the system has become sounder. We've achieved unified national management of basic old-age insurance funds for enterprise employees and implemented a unified old-age insurance system for urban and rural residents. We've essentially established a multi-tiered social security system. Second, coverage has continued to expand. Enrollment in basic old-age, unemployment, and work-related injury insurance has reached 1.074 billion, 245 million, and 301 million people, respectively. Third, we have steadily improved the level of security and gradually established and refined benefit determination and adjustment mechanisms. Fourth, we have continuously strengthened our security capacity, achieving steady growth in fund revenue, expenditure, and balance. Fifth, we have optimized service quality. We have largely established a five-tier urban-rural management and service network, issued social security cards to 98% of the population, and consistently improved public satisfaction with our services.
Through unremitting efforts, China has accomplished in a few decades what took many countries over a century. We've built the world's largest social security system, which is comprehensive and has distinct Chinese characteristics, laying a solid foundation for improving people's quality of life.
The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made important arrangements for improving the social security system. We will continue to deepen reforms, adhering to principles of systematic integration, coordination, and efficiency. Our goal is to promote high-quality, sustainable development of the social security system, providing more comprehensive, reliable, and equitable social security for the public. We will focus on the following five key areas:
First, we will enhance sustainability and strengthen the institutional foundation for stable operation. We will further improve the unified national management of basic old-age insurance funds for enterprise employees and study policy measures to expand the annuity system coverage. Additionally, we will roll out the private pension system nationwide, increase the scale of market-oriented investment and operation of funds, and improve the system for maintaining and increasing the value of social security funds.
Second, we will enhance accessibility and continuously expand social insurance coverage. We will improve social insurance systems for flexible workers, migrant workers, and those in new forms of employment. We'll expand pilot projects on occupational injury insurance for workers in new employment forms, implement policies to remove household registration restrictions for flexible workers' insurance participation, and bring more people under security coverage.
Second, we will enhance security and improve the fund security supervision system. We will further ensure that the principal responsibilities for fund safety risk prevention and control and supervision duties are assumed. We will optimize the prevention and control system, which covers four aspects: policies, services, information and supervision. We will enhance the whole-chain supervision on fund operation, improve abilities in risk prevention and control, and continue to safeguard people's money for elderly care and emergency use.
Fourth, we will increase convenience and continue to optimize the management and service system. We will improve the nationally unified public platform for social insurance services and the one-stop government service working mechanism. We will comprehensively enhance service channels and promote the handling of resident services through a single social security card.
Fifth, we will strengthen standards and enhance law-based governance. We will improve and revise relevant laws and regulations on social security at the proper time, ensuring the system's unified standards and mandatory limits. We will ensure the implementation of existing laws and regulations, and improve supporting policies and detailed rules for implementation. Thank you.
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Xinhua News Agency:
On Sept. 13, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) released a decision on gradually raising the statutory retirement age, which received widespread attention. What measures will be taken for implementing the decision starting Jan. 1, 2025? Thank you.
Li Zhong:
On Sept. 13, the 11th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee adopted the decision on gradually raising the statutory retirement age, specifying the goal, principles, main tasks and guarantee measures for the reform. On Sept. 19, the State Council held a video meeting on mobilizing efforts on gradually raising statutory retirement age, making deployments in this regard. Over the next three months, from now until Jan. 1 of next year, we will work with relevant departments, and earnestly implement the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, adopt a systematic approach, focus on the reform's key points, and work in various aspects to prepare for implementing the reform in a prudent and orderly manner. We will deliver in the following aspects:
First, we will accelerate the process of formulating and improving supporting policies and measures. Based on suggestions from various parties, we have earnestly researched necessary supporting policies and measures, such as those on promoting employment, safeguarding workers' rights and interests, and the retirement of workers in high-altitude areas. We will work with relevant departments to accelerate the formulation of relevant policies and supporting measures. At the same time, we will adhere to the principle of voluntary participation and appropriate flexibility, and work out specific plans, specifying procedures on applying for flexible retirement.
Second, we will enhance explanation and promotion of reform policies. Through various channels, such as social security service windows and the 12333 hotline, we will provide policy consultation services for workers, explain our considerations behind the policies, and interpret guarantee measures and service procedures, helping workers to better understand the policies.
Third, we will prepare for various aspects of application processing services. According to the principles and requirements for one-stop government services, we will adjust and improve social security service procedures, enhance information sharing among departments, and streamline and optimize procedures, to facilitate entities and employees to apply for relevant services.
Thank you.
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China Daily:
The Chinese delegation again achieved outstanding results at the recently concluded 47th WorldSkills Competition. Could you introduce the details? Thank you.
Li Zhong:
At the recent 47th WorldSkills Competition, the Chinese delegation achieved outstanding results. For further details, I would like to invite Mr. Lu to brief you.
Lu Aihong:
Thank you for your question. The WorldSkills Competition is the most influential global vocational skills event, often called the "Skills Olympics." From Sept. 10 to 15, the 47th WorldSkills Competition took place in Lyon, France, with participants from more than 70 countries and regions. The Chinese delegation sent 68 contestants to compete in all 59 events. This marks China's seventh participation in the competition and its largest delegation to date, participating in the largest number of events. After intense competition, the Chinese delegation won 36 gold medals, nine silver medals, four bronze medals and eight excellence awards, again ranking first in the gold medal tally, total medals and overall team score. Our young skilled workers engaged in exchanges and skill-sharing with contestants from various countries, showcasing exceptional skills and positive spirit, earning widespread acclaim.
The Chinese delegation won awards in 57 events across six categories at the competition. They excelled in their traditional strengths: the team clinched its fifth consecutive win in computer numerical control milling, while also claiming a fourth consecutive title in both masonry and fashion technology. The team also secured third consecutive wins in body repair, electrical installations, electronics and mobile robotics. Breakthroughs were also made in emerging industry events. Notably, in the Industry 4.0 category, the Chinese delegation won gold for the first time and received the Albert Vidal Award for achieving the highest score across all events.
Since joining WorldSkills in 2010, 283 Chinese contestants have participated in the WorldSkills Competition, winning 93 gold medals, 41 silver medals, 28 bronze medals and 71 excellence awards. These contestants have not only brought honor to the country but have also opened up broader growth and development opportunities for themselves. Many of them have dedicated themselves to passing on their skills and becoming role models for young people. They positively guide young workers toward skill-based employment, professional development, and using their talents to serve the country.
The 48th WorldSkills Competition will be held in Shanghai in 2026. We will earnestly implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, working closely with the Shanghai municipal government and relevant parties to ensure a well-organized event that is innovative and widely impactful. We hope that the media will continue to pay attention to and support this initiative. Thank you.
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Farmers' Daily:
China has nearly 300 million off-farm workers. What measures will be taken to promote their employment? Thank you.
Li Zhong:
Off-farm workers are a key focus in employment. I'll let Mr. Song answer this question.
Song Xin:
Thank you for your question. Promoting employment and income for off-farm workers is crucial. In recent years, the human resources and social security authorities have emphasized both out-of-town work and local employment to stabilize employment for off-farm workers and those who have escaped poverty. Currently, there are about 300 million off-farm workers nationwide, including 190 million working outside their hometowns and over 30 million formerly impoverished individuals. Moving forward, we'll actively promote coordinated urban-rural employment and further improve the support system for off-farm worker employment, focusing on four areas:
First, we'll enhance the mechanism for out-of-town work to ensure workers can relocate and maintain stable jobs. We'll improve labor cooperation mechanisms to provide comprehensive services, including job collection, precise matching and efficient placement. We'll also enhance job stabilization services by leveraging off-farm worker service stations in destination areas to achieve stable local employment. Additionally, we're cultivating more distinctive skilled labor brands to help more off-farm workers achieve skill-based employment. Currently, nearly 500 unique skilled labor brands have formed nationwide, with some brands facilitating employment and entrepreneurship for over 1 million people.
Second, we will expand local employment channels to ensure job opportunities and income growth. Currently, finding jobs close to home has become a new choice for an increasing number of migrant workers. We will explore new employment opportunities amid the country's efforts to support the implementation of major national strategies, build up security capacity in key areas, drive large-scale equipment upgrades and promote trade-in programs for consumer goods. In addition, while advancing new urbanization and comprehensive rural revitalization, we will make efforts to enhance employment capacity at the county level. At the same time, we will give full play to the role of employment service stations and gig markets, so as to create more service platforms where enterprises can hire workers nearby and people can find jobs close to home.
Third, we will encourage people to return to their hometowns to start businesses and increase their incomes, so as to boost motivation and vitality. For migrant workers interested in returning to their hometowns to start businesses, we will provide entrepreneurial services and follow up the implementation of supportive policies. Currently, we are conducting a campaign to promote entrepreneurship, with efforts focused on offering policy implementation, information exchange, and resource matchmaking services to those who are returning or moving to the countryside to start businesses.
Fourth, we will enhance efforts to prioritize employment support, helping those most in need and preventing risks. We will always prioritize employment assistance for those lifted out of poverty, and continue to implement actions to prevent them from returning to poverty. This involves the "four priorities," namely: prioritizing outbound employment, prioritizing enterprise recruitment, prioritizing job stability, and prioritizing efforts to help those most in need. Thank you.
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CNR:
We know that with the continuous development of the new economy and new forms of business, more and more new occupations are emerging. What are the considerations in actively cultivating and exploring new occupational categories? Thank you.
Li Zhong:
I would like to invite Mr. Lu to answer this question.
Lu Aihong:
Thank you for your question. New occupations, in terms of the Occupational Classification Code of the People's Republic of China, refer to occupations not yet included in the official classification. New occupations have two basic characteristics. First, a significant number of people are already engaged in these roles to support social and economic development; and second, they require relatively independent and mature professional skills.
In 1999, China issued the Occupational Classification Code of the People's Republic of China, which serves as a crucial framework for job classification in the country. It plays a fundamental and guiding role in labor demand forecasting and planning, employment population structure and trends analysis, as well as in vocational education and employment guidance. The classification has been revised twice. The latest edition, published in 2022, categorizes existing occupations into eight groups, including 1,639 occupations.
Due to economic and social development, technological progress, and the adjustment and upgrading of industrial structures, new industries, new forms of business and new models are rapidly developing. As such, new occupations are emerging and continually evolving, and need to be promptly identified and announced. Collecting and publishing new occupations in a timely manner is of great significance. First, it helps promote employment and entrepreneurship. Gathering, regulating and publishing information on new occupations helps to enhance their social recognition and expand employment options for workers. Second, it is conducive to promoting the alignment of talent cultivation with market demand. By announcing new occupations and developing new standards, we provide a basis and reference for vocational education, including majors setting, curriculum design and textbook development, which will enhance the relevance and applicability of skills training. Third, it supports the healthy growth of new business forms. By establishing relevant standards and norms, we will guide the healthy development of new occupations, so as to promote the development of new forms of business in a more standardized and professional way.
We will closely follow new trends in economic and social development, fully mobilize various resources, and actively explore and cultivate new occupational categories. Our focus will be on three areas:
First, we will continue to collect and publish information on new occupations. Our ministry has established a system for releasing information on new occupations. This year, we have published 19 new occupations, including biological engineering technician, oral health technician, industrial internet operation and maintenance personnel, exhibition organizer, cultural and creative product planning and operations conductor, and intelligent manufacturing system operation and maintenance personnel. We will focus on developing new quality productive forces, serving the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, nurturing and growing emerging industries, and planning the layout of future industries. We will continuously and dynamically adjust the occupational classification system and collect and publish a batch of new occupations each year.
Second, we will accelerate the development of standards and foundational training resources for new occupations. We will fully leverage the role of market entities and rely on leading enterprises, industry organizations and educational institutions to develop standards or evaluation norms for new occupations. At the same time, we will enhance the development of basic training packages and training materials for new occupations.
Third, we will vigorously enhance the capabilities of personnel engaged in new occupations. We will stick to the market and employment orientation and widely carry out training for personnel in new occupations. We will organize the collection and selection of evaluation agencies for new occupations, and systematically carry out self-evaluation by employers and social evaluation. In various vocational skills competitions at all levels, we will actively set up categories for new occupations. Thank you.
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The Beijing News:
Public employment services have always played an important role in employer recruitment and the job-seeking process. What are the plans and measures for optimizing public employment services? Thank you.
Li Zhong:
I would like to invite Mr. Song to answer this question.
Song Xin:
Thank you for your question. Public employment services are an important part of China's basic public services and a key means of stabilizing and expanding employment. Currently, there are more than 4,400 public employment and talent service agencies across the country, serving an average of 110 million people annually. There are over 6,900 odd-jobs markets, serving an average of nearly 300,000 people every day.
The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee proposed improving the public employment service system. We will continue to strengthen and enhance comprehensive public employment services that cover everyone, span the entire process, radiate across all areas, and are convenient and efficient, providing support for high-quality and full employment.
First, we will improve the system and promote equal access to services. We will eliminate restrictions based on household registration, region and identity, supporting urban and rural workers to enjoy employment services at their place of employment or job hunting. We will improve the service guarantee system for enterprises, providing equal recruitment and employment services to state-owned enterprises, private enterprises and individual business organizations.
Second, we will perfect the system to enhance service accessibility. We will continuously refine public employment service functions and provide targeted career guidance, job placement and other services to various recipients. We will establish convenient employment service stations and odd-jobs markets close to people's homes, create "15-minute service circles," and promote a service model of "big data plus in-person assistance" to push service resources down to the grassroots level.
Third, we will enhance capabilities and promote professional services. We will implement a capacity-building plan for public employment service personnel and build a high-quality team of service personnel with an appropriate structure. At the same time, we will further leverage the role of market-oriented human resource service agencies to expand the supply of specialized services and facilitate effective human resource connections.
Fourth, we will achieve smart services through digital capabilities. We will promote the continuous improvement of integrated provincial-level employment information resource databases and employment information platforms in various regions, make policies and services available online, and improve service efficiency. We will build and utilize a unified national public employment service information platform, promote information networking and data sharing, and support workers in enjoying employment services across various regions. Thank you.
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Jinan Daily APP:
In recent years, there has been strong demand for skilled workers in the labor market. What measures will be taken to boost the development of skilled workers? Thank you.
Li Zhong:
Thank you for your question. Skilled workers are a significant force supporting China's manufacturing and innovation. To advance high-quality development and build a modernized industrial system, cultivating a large-scale, well-structured, and high-quality force of skilled workers is of the utmost urgency. In terms of the development of skilled workers, we will prioritize work in the following aspects:
First, we will give priority to improving skills and build a system of lifelong vocational skills training. We will establish a vocational skills training system centered around enterprises, with vocational schools as the foundation, and combining government promotion with social support. We will focus on key areas such as the digital economy and green economy, as well as key industries such as health care and elderly care, pay close attention to shortages of skilled workers in new growth drivers and new vocations, and guide workers to actively participate in vocational skills training.
Second, we will give priority to the principal role of enterprises and boost the development of enterprises by strengthening the skills of workers. We will foster an enterprise skill ecological chain integrating production, education and evaluation by encouraging leading enterprises to take the lead, industrial chain enterprises to work together, and technical schools to provide training resources. We will promote a new type of apprentice system for enterprises with Chinese characteristics. We will enhance the construction of bases for training highly-skilled personnel and studios for skilled masters, and enhance the basic capabilities of enterprises to cultivate highly-skilled personnel.
Third, we will give priority to the integration of industry and vocational education, and promote the high-quality development of specialized technical education. We will promote a skilled personnel training model integrating industry and vocational education, deepen school-enterprise cooperation, accelerate the development of regional, industrial and other types of technical education alliances and groups, and improve the quality of education. We will dynamically adjust and optimize the provision of specialties to promote the in-depth integration of talent training and industrial development.
Fourth, we will give priority to innovation in mechanisms, and ensure that development channels for skilled personnel are unimpeded. We will thoroughly implement the new eight-level vocational skill rating system, support enterprises to carry out assessments of special-grade senior technicians and chief technicians, and make explorations on promoting the expansion of integrated areas for the career development of highly-skilled personnel and professionals. A wide range of skills competitions will be held.
Fifth, we will give priority to incentives and guarantees, and make skilled employment more attractive. We will dynamically release information on the salaries of skilled personnel, make explorations on establishing category-based guidelines for minimum wages for skilled professionals, guide enterprises to gradually improve the pay and benefits of skilled personnel, and enhance the attractiveness of skilled positions. We will strengthen the commendations and incentives for highly-skilled workers, select and set role models, and create a favorable atmosphere for skilled employment.
Thank you.
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Shou Xiaoli:
One last question, please.
National Business Daily:
At present, flexible employment and new forms of employment have become an important method of employment and income growth for workers in China. What measures will be taken to protect the rights and interests of workers in flexible employment and new forms of employment? Thank you.
Li Zhong:
I would like to invite Mr. Lu to answer this question.
Lu Aihong:
Thank you for your question. Flexible employment and new forms of employment are important sources of employment. Strengthening the protection of the rights and interests of workers in flexible employment and new forms of employment is conducive to promoting decent work and high-quality and full employment for workers. In recent years, we have worked with relevant departments to improve systems and mechanisms, promote the implementation of policies, optimize public services, take diverse measures to resolve disputes, and advance the protection of the rights and interests of workers in flexible employment and new forms of employment. Next, we will continue to actively explore ways to improve policies and measures and continuously advance our work in this regard, which mainly includes the following four aspects:
First, we will continue to enhance the quality of employment services. We will implement policies and measures supporting flexible employment through multiple channels, strengthen the regulation of the odd-jobs market, improve services, boost the accessibility of job information for people in flexible employment, and support workers to find employment through multiple channels both online and offline. At the same time, we will improve training measures to support workers in finding employment and enhance their vocational skills. We will take steady steps to strengthen the provision of public services and improve the working and living conditions of workers.
Second, we will strengthen the employment guidance for enterprises. We will strengthen the publicity of laws and policies, as well as administrative guidance and supervision of employment, and continue to promote the implementation of relevant policies and measures. We will promote a series of guidelines for new forms of employment, guide platform enterprises and partner enterprises to sign labor contracts and written agreements with workers in accordance with the law, rationally determine labor remuneration, reasonably arrange working hours, and fairly formulate platform labor rules, so as to continuously enhance enterprise employment in accordance with laws and regulations.
Third, we will optimize and refine the social security system. At present, we have launched trials of occupational injury insurance for people in new forms of employment in seven leading platform enterprises in seven provinces and cities, covering a total of more than 9 million people. On the basis of our summary of these experiences, we will continue to improve relevant policies and expand the scope of the pilot scheme. At the same time, we will take active steps to ensure a smooth channel for people in flexible employment to access old-age insurance in the places where they work, and improve relevant measures, so as to facilitate access to insurance and benefits.
Fourth, we will ensure a smooth channel for labor dispute mediation. We will strengthen coordination with people's mediation and judicial mediation, and carry out one-stop joint mediation services for labor disputes in new forms of employment concerning work remuneration, rest and occupational injuries. At present, over 1,500 mediation organizations have been established nationwide. At the same time, we will also strengthen the joint supervision and inspection of departments, accept reports and complaints from workers in a timely manner, coordinate the handling of relevant conflicts and disputes, investigate and punish illegal activities that infringe upon the rights and interests of workers in accordance with the law, and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of workers.
Thank you.
Shou Xiaoli:
Thank you Mr. Li, all the speakers and friends from the media. Today's briefing is hereby concluded.
Translated and edited by Yan Bin, Huang Shan, Gong Yingchun, Liu Sitong, Yang Chuanli, Yuan Fang, Liu Jianing, Wang Yanfang, Xiang Bin, Wang Wei, Yan Xiaoqing, Mi Xingang, Yuan Fang, Li Huiru, David Ball, Rochelle Beiersdorfer, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
