Action urged on risks in work spaces

The Ministry of Emergency Management has urged greater prevention and control of risks in limited work spaces after detailing a list of typical production accidents on March 26.

Limited space operations involve sectors such as mining, chemicals, construction, electrical engineering, papermaking, shipbuilding, food processing, catering, municipal engineering, urban gas and sewage treatment, all of which are high-risk areas easily ignored by companies.

The ministry is asking for more effort from companies to get a better understanding of the number, location and potential risks of working in limited spaces and tightening supervision of such operations.

Safety training for temporary and migrant workers and personnel from outsourcing units should be strengthened, it said, adding that on-site workers should be provided with the necessary equipment such as that needed for gas detection, respiratory protection, ventilation, lighting and communication.

It also required the formulation of emergency plans so casualties caused by improper rescues will be avoided.

Central bank backs green industries

The People's Bank of China will set tools for carbon reduction to encourage commercial banks to channel more financial resources to green industries.

The PBOC said at a recent conference the move was part of the efforts to ensure the country realizes its goal of carbon neutrality before 2060, the Xinhua News Agency reported on March 25.

The central bank stressed that commercial banks should strictly implement green finance standards and create services to adjust the allocation of credit resources in a timely manner. It said further support should be extended to technological innovation and manufacturing, with an increase in the proportion of loans going to these sectors.

The central bank also stressed keeping loan growth at a stable level, stepping up services to small and medium-sized enterprises and maintaining the continuity, consistency and stability of property-related financial policies.

Entrepreneurship zones aim for 1.1m jobs

China expects to create over 1.1 million jobs this year in its demonstration zones for entrepreneurship, according to a notice published on March 25. The country is trying to increase employment by promoting entrepreneurship in key demographics such as university graduates and migrant workers from rural areas, said the notice issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and five other departments.

Efforts will be made to unleash the potential for entrepreneurship in social service sectors such as online education, long-distance healthcare as well as elderly care and nursery services supported by artificial intelligence technologies, the notice said.

A total of 600,000 jobs are expected to be created in these sectors this year.

By prioritizing the entrepreneurship and employment of university graduates, the country will continue to strengthen the employment-oriented cooperation between universities and companies and provide better support for entrepreneurial programs, the notice said.

According to the notice, more than 2,000 small-and medium-sized enterprises in these demonstration zones are encouraged to integrate resources and be more innovative to develop specialized products and create 100,000 jobs this year.