OPINION> Commentary
For efficient job promotion
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-19 07:29

The employment promotion fund should be used with better efficiency, says an article in China Business Times. The following is an excerpt:

The government of Jiangxi province announced the other day that it would set up a system to assess the efficiency of local governments at different levels in using the employment promotion fund.

This decision was taken as a result of a survey, which found that the special fund for employment promotion was not used properly. Some departments used the fund to construct office buildings or on other projects that have nothing to do with employment promotion. And most of the fund was not used at all.

The central and local governments earmark big sums of capital to set up the employment promotion fund every year. The fund is meant to subsidize vocational training, social security and other links of employment promotion.

When the fund is misused or left untouched, it obstructs carrying out the country's employment promotion policies, have a negative influence on the life of the unemployed and their families and sends false signals to the policymakers when they need references for fixing employment promoting measures.

In our current labor market, the supply outnumbers the demand and many of the unemployed cannot find jobs for lack of professional skills. Thus, the assistance from the State becomes more essential for employment promotion.

The central government has made continuous efforts in this regard by offering favorable policies to vocational intermediaries and granting various subsidies. It has earmarked 276.1 billion yuan ($39.4 billion) to promote employment and improve social security, a 24.2 percent rise over that last year.

Abundant employment is one of the preconditions for improving people's living standard. Local governments should make a full use of the employment promotion fund and carry out the employment promotion policies.

(China Daily 05/19/2008 page9)