Earlier this week, China's Minister of Human Resources stated that 1.8m workers at state-affiliated coal and steel firms would lose their jobs, however, some believe the lay-offs in all of China's state companies may rise to six million employees in the sector over the next two to three years. The Chinese government has also announced a series of measures aimed at reducing air pollution, including plans for stricter vehicle emission standards and new rules on diesel cars. As the report suggests, cutting the payroll is the easy part; however, appeasing millions of jobless Chinese will be more difficult; over the last decade, unemployment and disgruntled workers have been some of the primary causes behind a ballooning number of "mass incidents" or organised protests in the country, jumping from 8,700 to 97,000 between 1993 to 2010; the government has since stopped releasing data.
Earlier this week, China's Minister of Human Resources stated that 1.8m workers at state-affiliated coal and steel firms would lose their jobs, however, some believe the lay-offs in all of China's state companies may rise to six million employees in the sector over the next two to three years. After over investing, the government has decided it cannot continue to subsidise heavy industry. As the report suggests, cutting the payroll is the easy part; however, appeasing millions of jobless Chinese will be more difficult; over the last decade, unemployment and disgruntled workers have been some of the primary causes behind a ballooning number of "mass incidents" or organised protests in the country, jumping from 8,700 to 97,000 between 1993 to 2010; the government has since stopped releasing data.