China will implement a new regulation to promote employment
opportunities for the country's 83 million?disabled
people.
The regulation, issued last month by the State Council, China's
cabinet, requires that?disabled people make up no less than
1.5 percent of the work force of government departments,
enterprises, and institutions.
Disabled?employees must be given equal promotion
opportunities, equal salaries and equal social insurance, according
to the regulation, which comes into effect on May 1.
Statistics show that China has 82.96 million?disabled
people but only 22.66 million are employed. More than 8.58 million
employable?disabled people have no jobs, and that number
increases by 300,000 a year.
Government departments, institutions, and enterprises that
employ more?disabled people will have access to preferential
tax and other policies, said the regulation.
Self-employed?disabled will be offered small loans when
starting their own businesses, and also receive preferential
treatment in tax and other management and registration charges,
according to the regulation.
Disabled?people living in rural areas are encouraged to
engage in cultivation, stock raising, and handicraft industries,
and will be given technical, material, and financial support.
Funds to promote employment among?disabled people and to
provide them with employment training and services will be part of
the government budget, the regulation says.
Organizations providing employment services to the?disabled
should offer free information, training, and job introduction
services. Success will be measured by statistics compiled by these
organizations.
(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2007)