China unveils plan to boost high-quality employment and worker protections

China plans to boost high-quality employment by fostering new industries, improving education systems, and strengthening worker protections to enhance public confidence in careers and ensure sustainable socioeconomic growth.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, recently issued a guideline emphasizing employment as a priority, recognizing its critical role in maintaining people's livelihoods and national stability.

Under the guideline, the government will focus on upgrading traditional industries and developing new sectors, including the digital, green, and silver economies, to create more jobs. It will also promote modern services and agriculture to attract more job seekers.

To better align education with the job market, the government will adjust college curriculums based on employment prospects, warning disciplines with poor job outcomes for review. Vocational education and flexible employment are highlighted as key areas for generating job opportunities. More skills training centers will be established, and companies are encouraged to open vocational schools to meet market demand.

The guideline also calls for removing unreasonable restrictions on labor mobility and eliminating job discrimination based on social status, gender, or age. It mandates improved salary mechanisms and measures to crack down on illegal employer practices such as wage arrears and unfair layoffs.

An employment monitoring system and emergency response mechanism for large-scale unemployment will be established. Regions with stronger economies are encouraged to set up employment-related funds to mitigate unemployment risks, while measures will be taken to address the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.