Vice Premier Huang Ju Friday ordered various localities and departments to give more priority to expanding employment in economic and social development. 

"Employment is the basis of people's livelihood and also a major part of the building of a socialist harmonious society," Huang said at a conference of the State Council on employment. 

Huang called for continuous implementation of pro-employment policies, raising the quality of workers and exploring the establishment of a pro-employment mechanism of lasting effects. 

Huang said China faces "heavy employment pressure in the coming three to five years" because of rapid growth of working age population, the task to find reemployment for laid-off workers and accelerated shift of surplus rural laborers to urban areas. 

He said the State Council has recently issued a circular on further intensifying employment and reemployment work and a decision on vigorously boosting vocational education. 

"Both documents are centered on promoting employment," said Huang. "They show the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council attach high-level importance to employment work." 

He ordered all localities and departments to ensure various policies and measures are implemented concretely.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2005)