China's elderly care service vouchers for seniors with moderate to severe disabilities have benefited 892,000 people, with redemptions totaling 1.72 billion yuan (around 249 million U.S. dollars) so far this year, an official said on Saturday.
Efforts have been made to boost the country's elderly care services and improve the well-being of older people, Civil Affairs Minister Lu Zhiyuan told a press conference on people's livelihood on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress.
"Focusing on pressing difficulties concerning the seniors the most, we boosted village or community supported at-home elderly-care services, we develop canteens for seniors across the country, nearly 80,000 meal service stations have been built, serving over 3 million older people every day, meeting their needs for freshly cooked meals. We set up home-care beds, with the total number reaching 495,000 to bring professional care to the bedside. We also have completed age-friendly home renovations for 2.24 million households with seniors with special difficulties," he said. "Since the start of this year, we have been granting elderly care service vouchers to moderate to severely functionally paralyzed seniors. Till now, 1.72 billion yuan of vouchers have been redeemed, benefiting 892,000 older people,"he said.
China's elderly care service vouchers benefit 892,000 people
China will step up efforts to stabilize employment in 2026, said the head of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) at a press conference on Saturday.
Last year, China's top political advisory body issued policy guidance known as the "four stabilities", directing relevant ministries and departments to seek stabilization in the areas of jobs, firms, markets and expectations.
In response, the MOHRSS has implemented an employment-first strategy. According to Minister Wang Xiaoping, speaking at a presser on the sidelines of the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing, the ministry will continue that strategy.
"We will further implement the employment-first strategy and requirements of the 'four stabilities', strengthen guidance, expand channels and prioritize key groups to make new progress in high-quality full employment," she said.
"In terms of 'stabilizing jobs', we will increase support for labor-intensive industries such as foreign trade, construction, accommodation and catering, with the aim of stabilizing employment positions while promoting the development of these sectors. In terms of 'expanding capacity', we will actively tap the employment potential in fields such as the digital economy, high-end manufacturing and modern services to achieve job growth alongside industrial upgrading. In terms of 'improving quality', we will effectively implement the adjustment mechanism for minimum wage standards, regulate the human resources market order, and fully enforce the guarantee system guaranteeing for migrant workers' wage payments, thereby elevating employment quality through strengthened rights protection," she said.
She noted that specific measures will be introduced to assist the upcoming wave of graduates.
"The number of college graduates in China is expected to reach 12.7 million this year. We will further improve policy measures, fully tap the employment potential of various channels and fields, expand employment space at the grassroots level, and help young people display their talents in all walks of life," she said.
China to boost employment with targeted measures: minister
