Chinato rehabilitate 1.8 million steel, coal sector workers

China, the world's biggest steel and coal producer, today unveiled plans to help the 1.8 million workers in the two sectors who faced the prospects of losing their jobs due to a restructuring aimed to cut overcapacity.
The "suggestions" on relocating the redundant workers were jointly released in a document by seven ministries including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and the National Development and Reform Commission, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
According to preliminary forecast by the human resources ministry, the two sectors will see a combined lay-off of over 1.8 million workers. Official media recently reported protests by workers over the lay offs.

To cushion the effect of job losses on families and society, the central government decided to allocate 100 billion yuan (USD 15.4 billion) to help the laid-off workers find new jobs. The fund can be increased if necessary and local governments should handle their responsibilities accordingly, Premier Li Keqiang said in March.
Today's document said that in addition to the help given to redundant staff, support will be offered to firms who create new jobs by adopting the "Internet Plus" strategy, developing new industrial fields and products, and expanding domestic and overseas market.
A "back-to-work" program should be created so that workers receive training and career guidance for free, and, for those who want to start their own businesses, channels that will give them access to government support, it said.

Local authorities should also enhance trans-regional cooperation to relocate redundant workers to regions with employment opportunities.
To switch from an investment-led model to one that relies on domestic consumption, services and innovation, China is slashing industrial overcapacity, mainly in the coal and steel sectors, the document said.