Q: In 1998, as a result of intensified reform of
state-owned enterprises, many workers were laid off. What measures
has the government taken to help them get reemployed or to ensure
them a basic standard of living?
A: In 1998, in order to cut redundant workers and prevent
state-owned enterprises from running into the red, the Chinese
Government began to accelerate its reform of these enterprises.
However, due to China's national conditions and for some historical
reasons, workers who were made redundant remain legally employed as
their employment contracts were still valid, and, known as laid-off
workers, they were taken care of by the state through reemployment
centers.
To guarantee a basic living standard for laid-off workers,
reemployment service centers were established in state-owned
enterprises that had redundant workers. The reemployment service
centers were responsible for providing basic subsistence allowances
and pay pension and medical insurance premiums on behalf of these
laid-off workers. The laid-off workers were entitled to obtain
allowances for daily necessities for a maximum period of three
years from such centers. Those who failed to find a job after that
three-year period may obtain unemployment insurance allowances, as
unemployed, for a maximum period of two years. Those who remained
unemployed after the two-year period ends will be covered by the
scheme to guarantee the minimum living standard for urban
residents.
Apart from this, the government has taken a series of measures
to help laid-off workers with employment guidance and reemployment
training, so that they can find new jobs. At the same time, a
market-oriented employment mechanism has been established and
improved. Under the guidance of the state policies, laborers are
encouraged to find jobs by themselves based on market regulation.
Necessary financial and policy support is offered to those
enterprises that arrange jobs for surplus workers of their own and
other laid-off workers by making use of their own sites, facilities
and technologies to develop diverse lines of business. Those
enterprises that organize laid-off workers to take part in such
public projects as municipal and road construction, environmental
protection and tree and grass planting will also receive such
support. The industrial and commercial registration procedures for
laid-off workers who intend to start community services have been
simplified. During the first three years of the new business, they
will be exempt from business tax, personal income tax and other
administrative charges. Moreover, measures have also been taken to
encourage laid-off workers in remote areas and mining zones to
engage themselves in farming, forestry, animal husbandry and
fishery by developing wastelands and marshes.
According to government statistics, China's state-owned
enterprises formerly employed 50 million workers. Since 1998, they
have totally cut 30 million from their payroll. The scheme to
guarantee the basic living standard of laid-off workers as well as
the state's efforts to promote their reemployment have helped them
to carry on with their lives. Among them, more than 8 million have
received unemployment benefits.
So far this century, the number of laid-off workers has begun to
decrease. The number was 9.41 million in 2000, falling to 6 million
in 2001, 4.1 million in 2002, and 2.6 million in 2003. Further
dropping to 1.53 million in 2004, the number is expected to be zero
at the end of 2005. For this reason, the scheme to guarantee the
basic living standard for laid-off workers of state-owned
enterprises will be abolished. People newly declared redundant will
get reemployed through labor market, and those who are unable to be
reemployed will enjoy unemployment insurance benefits or the
minimum living allowance for urban residents, according to relevant
regulations. The phrase "laid-off worker," which has come into use
since 1998, will disappear forever.