Fifteen?of China's central and biggest state-owned
enterprises (SOEs) have opened up applications for top management
positions to qualified candidates, including foreigners. A
spokesman from the SASAC said
that this form of open recruitment of the top brass is the first of
the kind. Moreover, foreigners are also eligible to apply.
In the past, senior staff members of central SOEs were appointed
by the central government and only Chinese candidates were
considered.
According to sources within the SASAC, two SOEs are seeking
general managers, while the others have positions for deputy
general manager and chief accountant.
However, China Worldbest Group Co Ltd, one of China's largest
pharmaceutical and textile companies, and the China Academy of
Building Research will be appointing their general managers.
The SASAC, which supervises the more than 170 central SOEs on
behalf of the central government, organized two similar recruitment
campaigns in 2003 and 2004, during which 28 central SOEs, including
China Unicom and China Aluminium Corporation, opened applications
for 30 senior positions, such as those of deputy general manager
and chief accountant, to the public.
A few of the jobs were also opened to foreigners, but none of
the foreign applicants was successful.
SASAC Minister, Li Rongrong, said earlier this year that the
open recruitment campaign for SOEs would go further this year in
terms of the scale of jobs offered and the number of participants
invited to apply.
He and a number of SASAC officials have just formed special
recruitment panels with the chiefs of the SOEs that are taking part
in this third recruitment campaign aimed at hiring "fresh
brainpower".
According to an SASAC press release distributed yesterday, the
results of the recruitment drive should be decided by the end of
September this year.
Although the exact requirements for each position differ,
preference will generally be given to applicants who are
innovative, familiar with the global operation of modern companies,
are at least bilingual, and who are below 50 years of age.
In addition, a further 10 central SOEs are offering similar
positions but only to Chinese nationals. The SASAC will release the
details of the jobs offered and their qualification prerequisites
tomorrow.
(China Daily May 9, 2005)