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)