Economy

China issues white paper on human resources

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-10 16:38

BEIJING - The Chinese government Friday issued a white paper on its human resources, highlighting the country's policies to cope with employment pressures and a lack of "high-level innovative talents."

The white paper, released by the State Council Information Office, introduced the country's human resources situation, related laws and regulations and protection of workers' rights and interests.

More than 500 companies offer 10,000 job vacancies at a job fair in Chongqing on Aug 21. Half of the employers surveyed in China planned to hire more staff, according to the human resources consulting firm Manpower Inc. [Zhong Guilin / for China Daily]

It says China's 1.3 billion population was "a vast reservoir of human resources," and "actively developing human resources, bringing into full play the potential ability and value of each individual and promoting the people's all-round development" is a significant aim.

China has a labor force of more than 1 billion people, 112 million more than in 2000, and the number of employees reached almost 780 million.

A nine-year compulsory education was made universal throughout the country in 2000, and illiteracy among people between the ages of 20 and 50 was basically eliminated, it says.

China moves up global ladder Related readings: China strengthens training of human resources National leading human resources supply Waste of human resources

By the end of 2009, the average schooling of people above 15 years old had reached nearly 8.9 years, while that of the majority of the working population was 9.5 years, of which 9.9 percent had received higher education, it says.

The paper says "people having professional knowledge or special skills who contribute to society through creative work are highly regarded in China." By the end of 2008, "the high-quality labor force" had reached 114 million.

It says the average disposable income of urban residents increased from less than 100 yuan ($14.7) in 1949 to 15,781 yuan in 2008, and the average net income of rural residents increased from 44 yuan in 1949 to 4,761 yuan in 2008.

China has established a human resources development legal system based on the Constitution, including the Labor Law, the Civil Servant Law, the Labor Contract Law, the Employment Promotion Law and the Law on Mediation and Arbitration of Labor Disputes, the paper says.

It says facing the difficulty that supply of labor outstrips demand, China always has the arduous task to "secure stable employment and create more jobs."

Making employment promotion a top priority, the government strives to help urban and rural workers enhance their overall qualities and gradually expands employment, it says.

From 2005 to 2009, more than 50 million new jobs were offered in cities, and nearly 45 million surplus rural workers were transferred to non-agricultural sectors, it says.