New center to improve lives of veterans

Mission includes help in finding jobs, running businesses, caring for families

The National Veterans Service Center was set up in Beijing on Tuesday, marking the latest step by the central government to improve the welfare of military retirees.

The establishment of the center, located in the office building of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs in northeastern Beijing, is in line with implementing instructions from President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission. The move will significantly boost support capabilities and services for veterans, the ministry said in a statement.

The center is tasked with supporting and assisting veterans in employment and business, helping retirees and their families who are in need, surveying and visiting veterans, handling their complaints and petitions and safeguarding their rights and interests. It will strive to foster a sense of honor and belonging among veterans, the ministry said.

In the next step, service stations for veterans will be established at every administrative level from province to community, the ministry said.

A service center official who asked not to be named, said workers will collect information, thoughts and feedback from veterans about local authorities' handling of their requests.

The central government has published guidelines designed to help veterans find civilian jobs or start businesses. Each veteran is eligible for two years of free vocational training and will receive a living allowance during the training period.

Employers are urged to give preference to veterans in recruitment, set lower entry requirements for job applicants who have served in the military and arrange training for the veterans they hire.

Enterprises that hire veterans can receive tax benefits if they meet certain criteria.

County governments and higher authorities have been asked to organize at least two job fairs for military retirees each year.

The Ministry of Veterans Affairs has also ordered the protection of veterans' rights at all levels of government, emphasizing the proper handling of veterans' petitions. It urged officials to fully implement policies to improve veterans' welfare, including helping them find jobs.

According to Sun Shaocheng, the veterans affairs minister, more than 530,000 personnel retired from the armed forces in 2018.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, more than 57 million military personnel have re-entered civilian life, the ministry said.

zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 02/27/2019 page5)