China's social security system has been drawing increasing attention as the central government attempts to reduce the number of unemployed people in the country.

And to strengthen its push, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security has announced a series of priorities.

The measures are widely seen by social science experts as another step to promote economic development more effectively and to gradually raise living standards, while amplifying the social security benefits of Chinese citizens.

The ministry is urging all large and medium-sized Chinese cities, as well as those eligible small ones, to establish public job broker organizations at municipal, district and community levels.

Moreover, a computer network should be set up to gradually integrate the job resources of 100 Chinese cities in the near future, allowing easier access to employment opportunities.

Promoting employment and re-employment has been high on the Chinese Government's agenda. Labor authorities across the country have so far set up about 18,000 employment agencies and they helped 9.78 million people find jobs in 2002.

Over the past five years, about 18 million workers who had been laid off were re-employed.

(China Daily August 20, 2003)