Harbin provides free rooms for young migrant workers

The Harbin Committee of the Communist Youth League of China in Heilongjiang province has launched a "Youth Talent Community" for young people coming to Harbin to seek employment.

The first five stations, including four hotels and one employment service station, will provide up to three days of free accommodation for young people, as well as related occupational guidance, according to the committee.

"It is a public service project aimed at meeting the transitional accommodation needs of young people coming to Harbin to seek employment," said Zhang Yingying, director of the youth development department of the committee. "In the past, young people sometimes encountered problems when they came to Harbin to seek employment. They couldn't find a place to stay when they arrived in the city for interviews or registration for their posts."

Therefore, the committee called on hotels and related operators in the city who are enthusiastic about public welfare to recruit urban youth partners and jointly build Youth Talent Communities.

"They will provide up to three days of free accommodation for young people from other places for employment, helping them stay safely and succeed in their careers in the city," she said. "We also hope to make young people feel warmth when they arrive here. We want to attract more young people to settle in Harbin, fall in love with Harbin and stay in Harbin."

The participating hotels have prepared rooms with decor specially prepared to cheer on young people.

"We are very happy to participate in such a public welfare project," said Guo Daming, manager of a participating hotel. "We will do our best to provide good services, in order to attract more talent to settle in Harbin and contribute to the city's development."

Through a WeChat mini-program named "Erbin Youth", young people can browse information and apply for accommodation with proof of their employment or interview notices.

After approval, they can check in on the agreed date. To facilitate young job seekers, the hotels will implement rent discounts after a three-day stay.

Applicants must be graduates of colleges or higher education aged 18 to 35, with their household registration outside the city, who are seeking employment in Harbin.

They must also have interview information from companies registered in Harbin.

There is also a youth employment service station in the city, which will provide free employment services, entrepreneurial guidance, policy promotion, vocational training as well as policy interpretation for talent settlement and tourism consultation for young people, local officials said.

To better help graduates find jobs, many cities across the country have issued policies for free accommodation during their job-hunting period.

The "Youth Hostel" program in Shanghai was launched in late November, according to a report by China Youth Daily.

Under the program, over 70 stable, safe, high-quality and public welfare-oriented youth hostels have opened to young people who come to Shanghai to find a job.

It focuses on serving graduates within two years of graduation from college.

Eligible young people can apply for up to three days of free accommodation and a total of up to 15 days per year.

Xiamen in Fujian province introduced a policy offering free accommodation for college graduates within three years of graduation.

Eligible applicants can enjoy up to a total of 12 months of free accommodation in the city.

zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn