Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing Saturday that the government will take more substantial, effective measures to score greater achievements in creating more jobs.

Premier Wen made the remarks at a ceremony honoring individuals and institutions that have made large contributions to improving the country's reemployment. He said that people should understand better still the importance of employment and reemployment and give the work a more prominent place in economic and social development.

Moreover, he urged local governments to implement proactive employment policies and pay special attention to developing labor-intensive industries and the private sector of the economy, while carrying out reemployment assistance policies to help laid-off people find jobs.

Vice Premier Huang Ju also urged local officials to encourage people to find jobs on their own in the market economy with local government's assistance.

Emphasis should be placed on the employment of disadvantaged people in poor regions and in difficult industries, he said, as well as on the improvement of employment service and occupational training and employment of college graduates and migrant workers.

A total of 524 institutions and individuals around the country were rewarded at the meeting for their eminent performance in reemployment work.

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2004)