China's State Council issued a circular recently ordering all localities and departments to further expand employment and do the reemployment work well for those laid-off workers.

"It is imperative to give more priorities to expanding employment in economic and social development," says the circular.

According to the circular, the government will implement preferential policies to help jobless people find jobs and encourage businesses to create more job opportunities.

After laid-off workers get new jobs, they will enjoy exemption of certain taxes for a maximum period of three years, according to the circular.

The government will provide better employment services and promote vocational training, including granting one-off subsidies for vocational training to job hunters.

The circular says the government will establish a pre-warning mechanism to monitor the unemployment situation and adopt comprehensive measures to adjust the situation and ease various ensuing contradictions.

The government will also further improve the social security system. From 2006, newly laid-off workers shall find reemployment through labor markets. During their jobless periods, urban residents will enjoy unemployment insurance and guarantee their basic living in line with relevant policies and regulations.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2005)