China to promote high-quality and full employment, draft government work report

China will continue to intensify efforts to promote high-quality and full employment this year to enhance people's well-being.

According to a draft government work report submitted Thursday to the country's top legislature for deliberation, China aims to keep the urban unemployment rate around 5.5 percent and create 12 million new jobs in urban areas this year.

The draft government work report released at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress states that the nation will strengthen support for employment through various policies and foster an employment-friendly growth model. The current measures, including granting employers unemployment insurance premium refunds, social insurance subsidies, special loans, and increasing government funding for work-relief programs, will continue.

The government will bolster support for labor-intensive industries and companies to stabilize jobs. More new job opportunities will be created in emerging industries and industries of the future, according to the draft report.

Additionally, the government will release more supportive employment policies for college graduates and other young people, help stabilize jobs for migrant workers, and assist demobilized military members in resettling and finding jobs.

For people facing difficulties in finding jobs, the government will increase assistance, and for flexible workers and those in new forms of employment such as delivery personnel and ride-hailing drivers, more inclusive social security programs will be available.

According to the draft work report, the government will provide stronger support for startups and entrepreneurs by using tools like subsidized loans. The government will also take effective measures to facilitate employment and entrepreneurship by better utilizing artificial intelligence technologies.

The draft work report highlights the government's determination to ensure payment for migrant workers and eliminate workplace discrimination to better protect people's working rights.

Furthermore, more large-scale skills training programs will be implemented this year to improve people's working skills and help them earn higher incomes, according to the draft work report.