Xinjiang's Comprehensive Developments in Recent Years - Employment Rights Protection (Part 2)

Xinjiang is situated in northwest China and the hinterland of the Eurasian Continent, covering an area of 1.66 million sq km. It is home to various ethnic groups, since historical times, different cultures and religions have coexisted, and continue to coexist in the region. In the long historical process, these ethnic groups have communicated and merged with each other, while living, studying, working and developing together in harmony.

As one of the biggest provinces in China, Xinjiang has great potentials in different aspects. However, in recent decades, due to rapid urbanization and economic development in other regions of China, Xinjiang has lagged behind in insufficient job opportunities, incomplete infrastructures, low educational levels, and so forth.

In recent years, the Chinese government has focused extensively on the development of Xinjiang in various aspects, including economic growth, infrastructural construction, improving people's wellbeing, training and education, cultural protection. More and more, the uniqueness and beauty of Xinjiang has attracted increasing numbers of tourists and foreign personnel which helped it to open up to the world.

In this video series, we will take a look at Xinjiang's transformations up to 2020, and witness its changes throughout the years.

Improvements in Employment and Labor Rights

For historical and a range of natural reasons, Xinjiang has long lagged behind other parts of the country in development, and there is a large impoverished population. The four prefectures in southern Xinjiang, namely, Hotan, Kashgar, Aksu and Kizilsu Kirgiz, in particular have a poor eco-environment, weak economic foundations, and a serious shortfall in employment carrying capacity. They are identified as areas of extreme poverty. In addition, many local people suffer from poor education and employability, low employment rates and incomes, and have fallen into long-term poverty.

Employment and job security carries great significance for ensuring people's right to work, improving their living standards, and promoting social harmony and stability. Especially since 2012, Xinjiang has vigorously implemented employment projects, enhanced vocational training, and expanded employment channels and capacity. Thanks to these efforts, the employment situation in Xinjiang has continued to improve, people's incomes and quality of life are rising, and their sense of happiness and security has significantly increased.

The income of residents and workers has increased steadily

From 2014 to 2019, the per capita disposable income of residents in Xinjiang increased as follows:

- Urban residents: from 23,200 yuan to 34,700 yuan (an average annual nominal growth of 8.6%); in 2020, this number reached 34,838 yuan

- Rural residents: from 8,724 yuan to 13,100 yuan (an average annual nominal growth of 8.9 %); in 2020, this number reached 14,056 yuan

- Urban residents in areas under the administration of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (a special entity entrusted by the state to cultivate and guard China's border area in Xinjiang): from 27,600 yuan to 40,700 yuan (an average annual nominal growth of 8.5%)

- Residents of the company residence areas of the Corps: from 13,900 yuan to 22,000 yuan (an average annual nominal growth of 9.9%)

- Average annual salary of employees in non-private sectors in cities and towns: from 53,500 yuan to 79,400 yuan (an annual growth of 8.4%)

- Average annual salary of employees in private sectors in cities and towns: from 36,200 yuan to 45,900 yuan (an annual growth of 5.4%)

- From 2018 to 2019, 155,000 people from registered poor households in southern Xinjiang and in four impoverished regimental farms of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps found employment outside their hometowns and subsequently emerged from poverty

The quality of the workforce has improved significantly

Thanks to the government's education projects, enrollments in preschool education, nine-year compulsory education, senior high school education, higher education and vocational education in Xinjiang have all reached the highest level in history.

- In 2019, there were 453,800 full-time students studying at universities and colleges (an increase of 146,200 over 2014)

- There were 1.84 million students studying at secondary schools (an increase of 147,600 over 2014)

- From 2014 to 2019, every year, Xinjiang provided training sessions to an average of 1.29 million urban and rural workers, of which 451,400 were in southern Xinjiang. The trainees mastered at least one skill with employment potential, and the vast majority of them obtained vocational qualifications, skill level certificates, or specialized skill certificates, allowing them to go on to find stable employment