A total of 300,000 citizens in Shanghai, East China, will each
get 2,000 yuan (about US$250) of government funds to learn
practical skills this year.
According to the Shanghai Municipal Labor and Social Security
Bureau, the municipal government will set up a bank account for
people who have difficulties in finding jobs and those who need to
improve their professional competence.
Each account will contain 2,000 yuan or more allocated from the
city's unemployment insurance fund. The account will remain active
until the people retire, Monday's China Youth Daily
reported.
People are free to choose from training programs publicized on
the government website and they can use the government funds after
they finish training and obtain competence certificates.
All unemployed people, surplus rural laborers, graduates of
schools of higher learning and employees in service, who have
permanent residence in Shanghai, can apply for the government funds
to attend training programs.
Unemployed people and surplus rural laborers are entitled to 100
percent funding from the government, and university graduates and
employees in service will have 50 percent of their training fees
paid for, according to the bureau.
(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2006)
