China unveils guidelines on promoting employment of disabled women

China recently released an action plan to promote the employment and income of women with disabilities through the "Beautiful Workshop" initiative.

Jointly published by the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the National Rural Revitalization Administration, the newly released action plan aims to select and support the development of a number of handicraft firms or institutions involved in the assistance of disabled women finding employment at or near their homes, and to develop the initiative into a leading brand in providing disabled women with assistance in vocational training and employment.

The action plan requires disabled persons' federations, women's federations and other relevant authorities, including the human resource and social security departments, culture and tourism departments and rural vitalization authorites, at all levels across the country to work closely together, making full use of policy support and incentives, and strengthen the capacity building of disabled women in employment. They should seek to strengthen the disabled women's vocational skills, as well as self-development abilities .During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the country will build 100 enterprises or institutions associated with the "Beautiful Workshop" initiative and adopt a wide range of supporting measures to help around 10,000 disabled women become employed in the handicraft sector.