Guideline aims to better assist odd-job seekers

China will adopt a series of measures, including collecting recruitment information for odd-job seekers, to bolster the development of the gig economy in a bid to boost employment.

According to a guideline published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and four other departments on July 7, vocational training will be provided for new and existing occupations with a strong demand for labor.

Employment assistance will be strengthened for job seekers who have been unemployed for a long time, who come from low-income households or who are disabled.

According to the guideline, efforts will also be made to crack down on irregular practices in the gig economy market to better protect peoples' rights.

China has introduced an array of policies in recent months to help job seekers, particularly college students and migrant workers, find jobs to keep the employment market stable.

Probe reveals houses with hidden hazards

A nationwide investigation into the structural safety of buildings built for profit by unlicensed builders has uncovered 261,000 houses with hidden hazards, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said at a meeting on July 8.

The ministry said it has checked the condition of 7.26 million houses, and 31,000 structures with serious defects that are not safe enough to be sold or leased for residential or commercial purposes have been seized.

Authorities have been tasked with conducting investigations to protect lives and property and maintain social stability, the ministry said at the meeting.

While unsafe buildings should be seized immediately, buildings with hidden risks uncovered during preliminary investigations will be handled according to the results of further assessment.

In April, 53 people died after a building erected by an unlicensed builder collapsed in Hunan province.

The accident spurred the nationwide investigation.

Cities look to integrate new tech, construction

China is selecting cities to pilot the integration of new technologies like 5G and artificial intelligence with the construction industry to promote the upgrading and transformation of the sector.

According to a notice issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on June 5, the pilot project aims to develop mechanisms and experience that can be applied in other areas, to accelerate the in-depth integration of advanced manufacturing technologies and the new generation of information technologies, and build industrial clusters featuring smart construction.

The construction sector is a pillar industry of the national economy, contributing to around 7 percent of China's GDP. Last year, the sector's output value was 29.3 trillion yuan ($4.35 trillion), according to the ministry.

Promoting the sector's development using smart technologies is critical because the construction industry is intensive in terms of energy and resources and lacks technological innovation.

Local authorities in the pilot cities should work to refine policies, cultivate a smart construction sector, set up pilot projects and refine management mechanisms, the notice said.