This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/29/china-to-cut-jobs-in-coal-and-steel-sectors
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China to cut 1.8m jobs in coal and steel sectors | China to cut 1.8m jobs in coal and steel sectors |
| (6 months later) | |
| China expects to lay off 1.8 million workers in the coal and steel industries, or about 15% of the workforce, as part of efforts to reduce industrial overcapacity. | China expects to lay off 1.8 million workers in the coal and steel industries, or about 15% of the workforce, as part of efforts to reduce industrial overcapacity. |
| It was the first time China gave figures that underlining the magnitude of its task in dealing with slowing growth and bloated state enterprises. | It was the first time China gave figures that underlining the magnitude of its task in dealing with slowing growth and bloated state enterprises. |
| Yin Weimin, the minister for human resources and social security, told a news conference on Monday that 1.3 million workers in the coal sector could lose their jobs, plus 500,000 from the steel sector. | Yin Weimin, the minister for human resources and social security, told a news conference on Monday that 1.3 million workers in the coal sector could lose their jobs, plus 500,000 from the steel sector. |
| China’s coal and steel sectors employ about 12 million workers, according to data published by the National Bureau of Statistics. “This involves the resettlement of a total of 1.8 million workers. This task will be very difficult, but we are still very confident,” Yin said. | China’s coal and steel sectors employ about 12 million workers, according to data published by the National Bureau of Statistics. “This involves the resettlement of a total of 1.8 million workers. This task will be very difficult, but we are still very confident,” Yin said. |
| For China’s stability obsessed government, keeping a lid on unemployment and any possible unrest that may follow has been a top priority. | For China’s stability obsessed government, keeping a lid on unemployment and any possible unrest that may follow has been a top priority. |
| The central government will allocate 100bn yuan (£10bn) over two years to relocate workers laid off as a result of China’s efforts to curb overcapacity, officials said last week. | The central government will allocate 100bn yuan (£10bn) over two years to relocate workers laid off as a result of China’s efforts to curb overcapacity, officials said last week. |
| The vice finance minister Zhu Guangyao quoted premier Li Keqiang as telling the US treasury secretary, Jack Lew, on Monday that the fund would mainly focus on the steel and coal sectors. | The vice finance minister Zhu Guangyao quoted premier Li Keqiang as telling the US treasury secretary, Jack Lew, on Monday that the fund would mainly focus on the steel and coal sectors. |
| The number of layoffs was reasonable based on the government’s capacity closure targets, said Jiang Feitao, an industry researcher with the China Academy of Social Sciences, a top government thinktank. | The number of layoffs was reasonable based on the government’s capacity closure targets, said Jiang Feitao, an industry researcher with the China Academy of Social Sciences, a top government thinktank. |
| He said the funds being made available would be used only after the enterprises go bankrupt and settle their debts. He said local governments would also be responsible for dealing with those debts. “It’s difficult to predict a timeframe but it will not be a quick process. There are many issues to be dealt with, including how to pay debt as well as layoffs.” | He said the funds being made available would be used only after the enterprises go bankrupt and settle their debts. He said local governments would also be responsible for dealing with those debts. “It’s difficult to predict a timeframe but it will not be a quick process. There are many issues to be dealt with, including how to pay debt as well as layoffs.” |
| The world’s second-largest economy grew 6.9% in 2015, the weakest in 25 years, and the government aims to achieve economic growth of 6.5-7% in 2016. | The world’s second-largest economy grew 6.9% in 2015, the weakest in 25 years, and the government aims to achieve economic growth of 6.5-7% in 2016. |
| “The economy faces relatively big downward pressures and some firms face difficulties in production and operation, which would lead to insufficient employment,” Yin said, adding that increasing graduates this year would also add pressure in the job market. | “The economy faces relatively big downward pressures and some firms face difficulties in production and operation, which would lead to insufficient employment,” Yin said, adding that increasing graduates this year would also add pressure in the job market. |
| Despite the economic downturn, there have been no reports of mass layoffs as occurred during the global financial crisis, when over 28 million workers were laid off. | Despite the economic downturn, there have been no reports of mass layoffs as occurred during the global financial crisis, when over 28 million workers were laid off. |
| The survey-based jobless rate published by the National Bureau of Statistics stayed at about 5.01% at the end of last year. | The survey-based jobless rate published by the National Bureau of Statistics stayed at about 5.01% at the end of last year. |
| Officials have said the services sector has created more jobs to help absorb laid-off workers from the manufacturing sector. | Officials have said the services sector has created more jobs to help absorb laid-off workers from the manufacturing sector. |
| In 2015, the contribution from the services sector to GDP climbed to 50.5%, surpassing 50% for the first time. | In 2015, the contribution from the services sector to GDP climbed to 50.5%, surpassing 50% for the first time. |
| The registered urban jobless rate published by the human resources and social security ministry was at 4.05% at the end of 2015. However, many economists believe the few official employment readings in China underestimate the number of jobless. | The registered urban jobless rate published by the human resources and social security ministry was at 4.05% at the end of 2015. However, many economists believe the few official employment readings in China underestimate the number of jobless. |