The Shanghai Municipal Personnel Bureau and Industrial and Commerce Bureau announced over the weekend that any unlicensed foreign headhunters already operating in Shanghai should register with them before the end of this year, and those qualified will be issued licenses.

Any companies which fail to do so will be closed and subject to punishment according to law.

Wang Shaochang, vice-director of the Shanghai Municipal Personnel Bureau, said the move will promote the flow of professionals.

Under local regulations, people working for headhunters are to receive training and be tested prior before they can obtain professional qualifications.

There are 110 headhunting companies operating in Shanghai with licenses, according to government sources, but insiders say at least 1,000 Chinese-funded and overseas-funded are operating without government approval.

(Xinhua News Agency 10/08/2001)