Home Business China International Culture��Edu Sci��Tech Sports Life Travel P hotos ��Search China Observer �� Should foreigners be allowed to join China's civil service? �� Environmental protection at a crucial moment �� Why are Chinese disinclined to show wealth? Photos �� Beijing: Spring Festival folk art exhibition �� Giant roosters "crowed" for Spring Festival �� Peach tree "blossoms" in chilly winter ��Home>>China Number of laid-off workers in SOE's lowest since 2000 www.chinanews.cn 2005-02-03 13:22:23 Chinanews, Beijing, Feb. 1st (By Sun Yuting) - Today, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security revealed that, by the end of 2004, the number of laid-off workers in China's state-owned enterprises (SOE's) amounted to 1,350,000, lower by 1,070,000 year-on-year. This number has been dropping for four years in a row. In 1998, the Chinese government established the Basic Living Stipend Protection System for laid-off workers of state-owned enterprises to ensure their well-being. SOE's that have laid-off workers usually set up re-employment service centers which will pay the laid-off their basic living expenses. Such payment would be slightly higher than the local unemployment insurance payout. E-mail: zhangqinghua@chinanews.com.cn Tel: 8610-88387443 Fax: 8610-68327649 Copyright� 2004 Chinanews.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Disclaimer: viewpoints in the website do not represent China News Service Learn Chinese, Chinese language