Peddlers and common laborers are considered the urban poor in many
countries. In east China's Shanghai municipality, special services
have been offered to these disadvantaged groups to help them find
decent jobs and reduce the city's poverty level.
Chen Guoming, a laid-off worker in Shanghai, is an example of how
the urban poor can lead a better life with the help of the
reemployment services provided by the municipal government and
local communities.
Chen was laid off in 1998 after working 28 years in a local light
bulb factory. To make a living, he became a fruit peddler.
Life was not easy, he said, as most peddlers feel isolated and
insecure. "I was ashamed to see my friends and relatives in the
market," he recalled, "and I was nervous when a policeman or a
security guard passed by."
A
year later, Chen set up a fast food restaurant in his community
with the help of a local reemployment center for laid-off
workers.
Today, Chen's restaurant is a success, and he has hired 12 laid-
off workers as his staff.
"It's a decent job," said Chen. "The pay is good and we all have
the feeling that we are part of the community."
So
far, over 10,000 community stores, restaurants and small
enterprises have been set up in Shanghai, offering jobs to some
140,000 laid-off workers from state-owned enterprises.
Most of these entities enjoy preferential policies including tax
exemption and low interest loans. Their employees enjoy the same
training opportunities and welfare benefits as those of any other
enterprises.
Andrea Singh, an expert of the International Labor Organization,
hailed Shanghai's reemployment efforts, saying they may help
"tackle the employment bottleneck" in many countries of the
world.
( 10/13/2001)