Chinese White Paper: "13 Million Jobs Created in Xinjiang Autonomous Region Last Year"

White Paper Published to Improve Xinjiang Uyghur Image... Extensive Coverage by Chinese Media
Published in Response to US Ban on Imports of Products Made in Xinjiang Due to Forced Labor Allegations

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Chinese government is making strenuous efforts to improve its image by emphasizing that more than 13 million people found new jobs in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region last year.

According to Chinese state media such as the People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, and Global Times on the 18th, the Information Office of the State Council of China released a white paper titled 'Labor and Employment Stability in Xinjiang Autonomous Region,' highlighting that the Chinese government's efforts have revitalized the economically underdeveloped region.

According to the white paper, from 2014 to 2019, the total employment in Xinjiang Autonomous Region increased from 11,352,400 to 13,301,200. It stated that surplus rural laborers transitioned to urban employment and found new jobs.

As a result, the per capita disposable income of urban residents in Xinjiang Autonomous Region increased from 23,200 yuan to 34,700 yuan. During the same period, the per capita disposable income of rural residents rose from 8,724 yuan to 13,100 yuan.

The People's Daily claimed that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the labor and employment stability system in Xinjiang Autonomous Region has improved, and the scale of employment has continuously expanded in connection with the publication of the white paper.

The newspaper also emphasized that, according to Chinese law, the basic rights and labor rights of the people of Xinjiang Autonomous Region are protected, and employment is conducted entirely based on the workers' employment wishes.

This move by the Chinese government is because Xinjiang Autonomous Region is one of the key areas in the US-China conflict. The United States has pressured the Chinese government by banning imports of certain products produced in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, citing forced labor and human rights abuses. China defines separatist movements in Xinjiang Autonomous Region as terrorism and is blocking separatist movements at their source. In this process, allegations have been raised that the Chinese government operates forced labor camps and suppresses the human rights of ethnic minorities.

The white paper also described that the Chinese government made active efforts regarding the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

It included content in the white paper that the Chinese government is making efforts for the people of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, such as exempting social insurance fees amounting to 7.553 billion yuan for unemployment and industrial accidents.

It stated that the Chinese government is contributing to improving income levels in Xinjiang Autonomous Region by providing unemployment benefits totaling 1.695 billion yuan to more than 550,000 unemployed people.

The white paper emphasized that, according to Chinese laws such as the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Labor Security Supervision Regulations and the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Labor Rights Protection Regulations, rights related to employment, wages, holidays, job stability, freedom of religious belief, and the use of minority languages and scripts are firmly guaranteed.

Based on the white paper, the People's Daily and Xinhua News Agency argued that "some international forces (such as the United States and some Western camps) ignore China's efforts to protect human rights in Xinjiang Autonomous Region due to ideological prejudice and apply double standards on human rights," and "they are spreading false stories such as forced labor in Xinjiang Autonomous Region."

Located in northwest China, Xinjiang Autonomous Region is home to 11 million Uygurs (Turkic ethnic group). Xinjiang Autonomous Region borders Turkic countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan, and its religion is Islam. It is a representative autonomous region that is distinctly different from China in appearance, language, religion, and culture. It was annexed by China in 1949 and became an autonomous region in 1955.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.