Wu, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that as China's social security system remained incomplete, the system is yet to be further improved. The pressure on the employment and reemployment is on rise, he acknowledged, and some of the on-job workers are still in difficulties.

During the discussion of a delegation of deputies from east China's Anhui Province to the on-going first session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), Wu said the laid-offs from the state-owned enterprises should be paid timely and in full, and the basic pensions for retirees and subsistence allowances for the urban needy be guaranteed.

Quoting Party General Secretary Hu Jintao as saying that solving the difficulties of the needy workers should be considered a major matter of overriding importance, he said everything possible should be explored to further expand employment and reemployment.

More avenues should be open for employment and reemployment, said Wu, and the role of the tertiary business and private sectors should be given fuller scope in the endeavor of job creation.

Reemployment service should be improved and reemployment training for the laid-offs should be stepped up so as to help raise their technical competence, Wu Bangguo said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2003)