Notice on Strengthening the Employment Work for Graduates from Regular Higher Education Institutions

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Yesterday, the website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security provided an interpretation of the State Council’s “Notice on Strengthening Employment Services for Graduates from Regular Higher Education Institutions.” According to this interpretation by the ministry, the time spent by college graduates on research work is counted as part of their working experience； For college graduates facing employment difficulties and those coming from zero-employment families, the relevant departments will prioritize recommending them to employers, as well as providing various subsidies to help overcome the employment challenges this year. 　　 　　　　　I. Policy measures to encourage and guide graduates to seek employment at the grassroots level in urban and rural areas Working at the grassroots level in urban and rural areas not only provides employment opportunities but also offers a chance for growth, representing the main direction for college graduates’ employment. To encourage college graduates to participate in the development of new socialist rural areas, urban communities, and military service, the Notice proposes four specific incentive policies: First, a subsidy policy for employment in positions related to grassroots social management and public services. This involves two subsidy policies: First, for university graduates who work in rural areas and urban communities in fields related to social management and public services, and who meet the requirements for employment in such public-service positions, they are entitled to social insurance subsidies and subsidies for working in public-service positions, in accordance with the current employment promotion policies. Second, those who are employed in positions related to social management and public services at the rural grassroots level or in urban communities are provided with salaries or living allowances; the necessary funds are covered through existing channels, and they are required to participate in relevant social insurance programs as stipulated. 　　 　　　　The so-called positions in grassroots social management and public services include village officials, those working in education, agriculture, and healthcare, those involved in poverty alleviation in rural areas, as well as roles in urban communities such as providing legal aid, employment assistance, social security support, cultural and technological services, elderly care services, home-based services for people with disabilities, and services related to low-rent housing. Public welfare positions refer to management and service roles that are entirely funded by **for the purpose of serving the public interests of the community and its residents. Priority is given to individuals in difficult situations or certain key groups, and social insurance subsidies as well as position subsidies are provided from special employment funds ； Other positions in grassroots social management and public services refer to the corresponding social management and public service roles developed or established at the grassroots level in streets, communities, towns, and villages. Part of it is funded by **, or by relevant organizations and entities. The personnel assigned for use are entitled to relevant subsidies in accordance with regulations. 　　 　　　　Second, tuition fees and loan repayment policies. Appropriate compensation for tuition fees and student loans is provided to college graduates who take jobs at the rural grassroots level in the central and western regions as well as in remote and difficult areas at the county level and below, and to those who enlist in the military to serve as conscripts. 　　 　　　　Third, preferential policies for recruitment and hiring. Priority shall be given to university graduates with grassroots experience in the recruitment of postgraduate students and the selection for public institutions, and the proportion of such individuals hired in Party and government agencies at the city level and above shall be further increased. 　　 　　　　Fourth, continue to implement and improve specialized programs aimed at employment at the grassroots level, and expand the scope of these programs. The main contents consist of four aspects: First, relevant central departments and local programs focused on employment at the grassroots level in 2009 should encourage more college students to participate. Second, it is necessary to establish methods for coordinating the benefit policies of various projects. Third, living allowances are provided to graduates who participate in the program, along with coverage under relevant social insurance. Fourth, all the vacant positions resulting from natural staff reductions associated with the project should be filled by university graduates who remain in the area to work after the project is completed. 　　 　　　　II. Policies to Encourage Graduates to Work in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Private Enterprises At present, over 70% of college graduates take jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises as well as private enterprises, which has become the main channel for their employment. However, this channel is not yet smooth enough, and the relevant systems and policies need further improvement. The Notice sets out requirements for improving and implementing these systems and policies, mainly focusing on three aspects: First, eliminating institutional barriers and restrictions that hinder employment. Mainly in areas such as archive management, personnel agency services, social insurance processing and continuation, professional title evaluation, and rights protection, it is necessary to thoroughly review the current systems, simplify procedures, and provide excellent service in order to create a favorable environment for college graduates to find employment in enterprises. 　　 　　　　Second, lift the restrictions on household registration. Cities across the country should lift residence registration restrictions on enterprises that hire graduates from regular colleges and universities with a degree at or above the junior college level who do not hold local household registration (municipalities directly under the Central Government shall follow relevant regulations). 　　 　　　　Third, implement employment support policies. Companies that hire qualified university graduates can enjoy corresponding employment support policies. The so-called eligible university graduates mainly refer to those who have difficulty finding employment, and the support policies include social insurance subsidies for enterprises as well as fixed-amount tax reduction measures ； Labor-intensive small enterprises that hire a specified proportion of registered unemployed university graduates can obtain small guaranteed loans amounting up to 2 million yuan. 　　 　　　　III. Policies to encourage key enterprises and research project units to actively recruit and retain college graduates 　　　　　　To improve the quality of human resources in key enterprises as well as the quality of research projects, corresponding incentive policies should be implemented for those with technical expertise and outstanding college graduates. The Notice proposes three measures: First, encourage enterprises to hire more college graduates. State-owned large and medium-sized enterprises, especially those focused on innovation, should recruit more graduates with technical expertise. High-tech development zones, economic and technological development zones, and high-tech enterprises should focus on recruiting college graduates. College graduates possess modern knowledge and skills that meet the employment needs of such organizations; therefore, the Notice calls for encouraging their recruitment in order to strengthen talent development, utilization, and retention. Localities and relevant departments should formulate specific incentive measures based on the actual situation. 　　 　　　　Second, encourage struggling enterprises to retain more college graduates. In the current efforts to address the international financial crisis by reducing the burden on enterprises and stabilizing job positions, support is provided to struggling enterprises to retain more college-educated technical professionals, with social insurance subsidies, job position subsidies, or vocational training subsidies offered as stipulated. The \"Notice on Taking Active Measures to Alleviate the Burden on Enterprises and Stabilize the Employment Situation\" issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Taxation Administration (Document No. 117 issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security) contains specific provisions regarding this policy. 　　 　　　　Third, encourage scientific research projects to hire college graduates. Units undertaking ** and major local research projects should actively recruit outstanding graduates to participate in the research. First, provide them with labor costs and subsidies for relevant social insurance fees, to be covered by the project funds. Second, during their participation in the project, graduates’ household registration and personnel files can be kept at the talent exchange agency located in the area where the project is carried out. Third, upon the expiration of the employment contract, it is possible to renew the contract or seek employment in other positions; the length of service and the period of social insurance contributions are calculated continuously throughout the employment period. This is the new policy. College graduates participating in research projects can not only promote the advancement of scientific research but also extend their time for study and research, which plays a positive role in alleviating the current employment pressure. 　　 　　　　IV. Policy Measures to Encourage and Support College Graduates in Starting Their Own Businesses Self-employment represents an important source of employment opportunities for college graduates. According to relevant surveys, the proportion of recent graduates who start their own businesses is currently only 0.3%. Starting a business is very difficult, but it also holds great potential. In the future, more policy support and services are needed to encourage college students to start their own businesses. The “Notice” sets out four requirements for action in this regard: First, universities are encouraged to actively carry out entrepreneurship education and practical training activities. 　　 　　　　Second, tax and fee reductions and microloans. For graduates who engage in self-employment and meet the relevant criteria, administrative and institutional fees will be waived for three years ； Implement existing tax policies regarding employment of persons with disabilities, re-employment of those who have lost their jobs, as well as the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and high-tech enterprises, in accordance with regulations; also arrange for premises suitable for entrepreneurship and business operations ； Graduates from colleges and universities who are registered as unemployed can apply for small-scale guaranteed loans; those who engage in partnership or organized employment may receive larger loan amounts, while those working on low-profit projects are eligible for interest subsidy support. 　　 　　　　Third, entrepreneurial services. Vocational training subsidies are provided to university graduates with entrepreneurial aspirations who participate in entrepreneurship training ； Strengthen entrepreneurship guidance services for college graduates and provide one-stop entrepreneurship services. Build and improve a number of university entrepreneurship parks and incubation centers, providing relevant policy support. 　　 　　　　Fourth, encourage and support flexible employment for college graduates. College graduates are encouraged to engage in flexible employment, and those who meet the criteria for individuals facing employment difficulties can benefit from social security subsidy policies. 　　 　　　　　V. Employment assistance measures for graduates facing difficulties The “Notice” calls for enhanced employment assistance for four categories of graduates in difficulty: First, for graduates from families in difficult circumstances, universities may provide appropriate job-seeking subsidies as appropriate, and they are exempt from application fees and medical examination fees when applying for civil service positions or jobs in public institutions. 　　 　　　　Secondly, for graduates who have left school, remain unemployed, and returned to their hometowns, local authorities should determine the exact number of such individuals, provide free services such as policy consultation, career guidance, job placement, and management of personnel records, and organize them to participate in employment fairs, vocational skill training, and other activities aimed at promoting employment. 　　 　　　　Third, for college graduates registered as unemployed, local authorities should incorporate them into the local policies aimed at supporting the unemployed and ensure the proper implementation of these policies. 　　 　　　　Fourth, for college graduates facing employment difficulties or coming from zero-employment families, support measures such as one-on-one career counseling, priority recommendations to employers, and placement in public-interest positions should be provided. Employment assistance policies including social insurance subsidies and subsidies for public-interest positions shall be implemented in accordance with regulations. The criteria for individuals facing employment difficulties are set by the provincial people’s **.