More than 300,000 laid-off workers from state-run enterprises
(SOEs) found new employment in the first quarter, shrinking the
nation's total to about 2.3 million, according to a report released
by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
The ministry also indicates that 1.5 million of all laid-off
workers have appeared in reemployment service centers across the
country to register for unemployment. All those registered had
received living stipends from the government and their social
insurance fees were paid by local governments. Retirees also
received full payments of basic endowment pensions.
"The government's policy of supporting retirees of agricultural
SOEs has been fully implemented," said a ministry official.?
"More efforts will be made to guide all localities to set up and
improve reemployment aid mechanisms according to their own
situations. Violations will be punished appropriately."
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(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2004)