New plan supports disabled job seekers

China's Cabinet, the State Council, has released a three-year action plan to promote fuller, higher-quality employment for people with disabilities from 2025 to 2027, aiming to ensure they share in the benefits of the country's modernization.

Governments at all levels have been urged to expand employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for people with disabilities, strengthen protections for their labor rights, and foster a social environment that supports them in finding jobs or starting businesses.

According to the plan, government agencies should set aside a certain proportion of job openings for people with disabilities and provide supportive policies for entrepreneurship, such as reserving market stalls or night fair spaces for them at reduced rents.

The plan identifies college graduates with disabilities and people with disabilities living in rural areas as key groups requiring additional support. Local authorities have been instructed to improve employment services for disabled college graduates and to organize more job fairs specifically for them.

Authorities are also encouraged to make regular visits to people with disabilities in rural areas, offer training programs in e-commerce, livestreaming and tourism, and encourage participation in the package delivery sector.

The plan highlights vocational education for people with disabilities, urging local governments to explore establishing vocational skills departments or majors at special education schools and classes at vocational schools and colleges. It also calls for regular skills competitions to be organized for people with disabilities.

Additionally, the plan instructs local authorities to strengthen supervision of the job market and crack down on illegal activities that violate the labor rights of people with disabilities.