China's central government budget for re-employment stands at 10.9 billion yuan (US$1.32 billion), up 2.6 billion yuan, or 31 percent, year-on-year, officials with the Ministry of Finance said Friday.
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The central government also increased budget funding for employment training programs for farmers to 400 million yuan (nearly US$50 million), compared with 150 million yuan (about US$20 million), said an official with the ministry.
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Following rapid growth in budget funding for re-employment and social securities, this year's increased funding arrangements for re-employment programs for urban and rural residents show the government's commitment to a more harmonious society, said the official.
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The Ministry of Finance will continue its effort to?improve social security system in urban China, and to provide basic living allowance for those laid off by state-owned firms, he said.
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The?central government increased its allowance for re-employment by 2.225 billion yuan (US$271 million), or 54.6 percent, in 2004, while local governments also made similar arrangements, according to the ministry.
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Meanwhile, the ministry earmarked 14.4 billion yuan (US$1.75 billion) in living allowance funding for jobless workers, and delivered 52.4 billion yuan (US$6.39 billion) in transferred payment for pension fund, which helped ensure retirees get their pension in time and in full.?

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2005)