The state work safety watchdog, the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWF), has set its guidelines for 2006, which it hopes will decrease the number of workplace-related accidents by 3 percent annually, according to a Xinhua News Agency report on Friday.

In accordance with the country's 11th Five-Year Development Guidelines (2006-2010) for work safety, measures will be implemented to reduce the number of workplace deaths by 2,838.

To fulfill the aim put forward by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee "to reduce the number of serious accidents in coalmines in two years" the watchdog will oblige coalmining companies to achieve a 3.5 percent reduction in 2006.

These measures are to be implemented as soon as possible by governments at all levels and by companies. Further, a rewards and punishment mechanism is to be set up to encourage implementation.

China has issued work safety policies since 2004, and progress made by the relevant officials is used as a measure of their overall performance. 

(China.org.cn by Zhang Yunxing, January 27, 2006)