Domestic service industry to get boost

The General Office of the State Council has issued a guideline on June 26 to facilitate the development of the domestic service industry.

According to the document, multiple measures will be implemented to enhance the quality of personnel working in this field. Colleges will be required to set up related majors, and home service enterprises will be encouraged to hold vocational education. New employees will receive pre-job training and all staff should get training at least once every two years.

Enterprises that provide home services should sign labor contracts with their employees and pay salaries that should not be lower than the minimum wage standard, and pay social insurance with the full amount for them.

More preferential policies will be released to promote the development of the industry, including further deductions in value added tax, easier loans and diversified financing channels, the guideline said. Enterprises that recruit college graduates or people with difficulty finding jobs will enjoy subsidies in social security.

Enterprises are encouraged to buy commercial insurance for their employees. Local authorities should make further efforts in improving living conditions for home service workers, and carry out physical examinations for them.

A platform with credit information on home service enterprises will be established, with an incentive and punishment system, to stimulate credit construction in the industry.

Cooperative mechanisms could be set up between cities with huge demand for home services and less developed areas with large populations, allowing the people to be trained with related skills. Vulnerable groups such as graduates with financial difficulties and laid-off workers could enjoy free training.