Skilled workers in Beijing will soon receive a government
stipend, a benefit formerly reserved for outstanding experts and
scholars, a local government official said Tuesday.
The allowance will be given to 100 outstanding skilled workers
selected every two years from enterprises in the capital, Yang
Decheng, a municipal government official, said.
He gave no details of how much the allowance would be.
Other preferential policies, such as citizenship registration
priority, would be given to technicians in high-tech industry,
construction and manufacture and other pillar industries, he
said.
"This measure is expected to relieve a shortage of skilled
workers in the city and enhance technical skills and productivity,"
Yang said.
Zhu Yue, a young car industry technician, called the allowance
encouraging. "It's good to know a blue-collar worker can also be
granted government allowance, which used to be a privilege reserved
for professors and researchers."
(Xinhua News Agency, December 6, 2007)