A nationwide employment campaign was launched in Shanghai yesterday (Sept 19) to provide university graduates with job opportunities in co-operation with chain stores and franchisers at home and abroad.

The campaign, sponsored by the China Chain Stores and Franchises Association, is the first of its kind in the country, and combines universities with businesses to help graduates solve the difficulty of finding jobs.

"To solve this issue, we need not only concern from the government. It's also a responsibility for chain store businesses," said Pei Liang, secretary general of the association.

Pei said many franchisers have worked out preferential policies to encourage graduates to start their own chain store and franchise business while employing some of them to work in their companies.

The campaign, which will extend to Guangzhou, Xi'an and Beijing, has firm support from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Education and the Shanghai Municipal Education Committee.

Meanwhile, an exhibition for international chain stores and franchisers opened at the Shanghai International Exhibition Center on Saturday to echo the campaign.

Many branded retailers and franchisers, including Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc and Yum! Brands Inc, introduced their management concepts and preferential policies for graduates starting businesses at the show.

"Human resources are invaluable for an enterprise wishing to lead the industry," said Sun Jian, CEO of Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc, which plans to employ 600 graduates from universities next year.

Sun's plan was echoed by Wang Hongyu, HR Director of Yum! Brands Inc China Division, who said his company has employed 3000 graduates this year and more will be hired next year.

Other firms introduced policies on loans and management subsidies at the campaign-launching ceremony to help solve funds shortage in running chain stores.