Measures help former veterans find employment

China will use multiple measures to foster employment of the country's veterans, according to a draft law.

The draft law on support for veterans was submitted on Thursday by the State Council and the Central Military Commission to the 19th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for its first reading.

The goals behind the law are to improve the handling of veterans' affairs, better safeguard their rights and interests, and boost the attractiveness of military careers, according to a statement sent to the 13th NPC Standing Committee by the State Council and the Central Military Commission.

The draft law stipulates that the government shall encourage and help veterans land civilian jobs or start their own business. It also asks the government and the military to strengthen vocational training for veterans to give them better adaptability and capability in the job market.

Employers are urged to give preference to veterans in recruitment, set lower requirements for job applicants who have served in the military and arrange periodic training for any veteran they hire, according to the draft law.

Human resources agencies shall provide free or discounted services to retirees.

Enterprises that hire veterans can be eligible for tax benefits if they meet certain criteria. Small businesses founded by veterans can apply for loans with favorable terms, the document suggests.

Industry parks or business incubation programs sponsored by the government shall offer favorable terms to retirees who want to open their own businesses. Economically developed regions can set up dedicated programs to assist startups launched by veterans, it adds.

In addition to employment issues, the draft law also clarifies the principles and work methods of authorities in charge of veterans affairs, specifies obligations and rights of service retirees, and adds more favorable measures for veterans.

Sun Shaocheng, minister of veterans affairs, said at Thursday's session that veterans have contributed a great deal to national defense and the armed forces. They are an important force in China's modernization drive and are treasured by the Party and the nation. He said that the appropriate handling of veterans affairs is significant to political stability, military building and social security.

The Ministry of Veterans Affairs has paid great attention to the making of the law since its establishment in March 2018 and regarded the work a priority on its agenda soon after it was founded, the ministry said in a statement.

It set up a team to research President Xi Jinping's instructions on veterans' treatment, collect and analyze current veterans' treatment policies, solicit and discuss opinions from the public, and learn from other countries' experience in legislation for retirees. With these preparations, the team produced the draft law in a short time, the statement added.

China has taken a host of measures over the past two years to improve benefits for veterans and military members' families.

In March 2018, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs was established. The National Veterans Service Center was set up in February 2019 and since then, veteran service centers or stations have been established at every administrative level, from community to provincial.

Guidelines listed in a document published by the government in January cover almost all elements of daily life, ranging from medical care, housing and education to transportation and leisure activities.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, more than 58 million military personnel have re-entered civilian life, according to official statistics.