Employment on target

China's Minister of Labor and Social Security, Yin Weiming said at a meeting on Monday that China is well on its way to reaching its 2008 employment goals. But challenges, like the snowstorms earlier this year and the Sichuan earthquake in May, have made its tasks more difficult.

Statistics show that new employment in urban areas in the first half of the year stood at 6.4 million. That's already 64 percent of the way to reaching this year's employment goals.

Reemployment of laid-off workers reached 2.8 million, which stands for 56 percent of this year's goal.

Yin Weimin, Minister of Ministry of Labor and Social Security, said, "The overall employment rate is generally equal to the same period last year. It is not easy to achieve the current result with the snow storms and earthquake disasters in the first half of the year."

Yin pointed out that natural disasters have forced many companies to suspend their operations and have led to higher unemployment levels in Sichuan province. 19 other provinces and municipalities have agreed to give support and provide jobs for the quake-hit areas.

Yin Weimin, Minister of Ministry of Labor and Social Security, said, "Till the end of September, these provinces and municipalities have provided 100,000 positions for disaster-hit areas, 35,000 of which are in regions away from their hometown. 175 thousand people are employed locally."

Yin also says, this year's new graduates also hit record highs. He urged all departments to ensure these graduates have free access to employment or start their own business, and complete this year's employment targets.

Unionpay raises overseas withdrwasl CAP

China UnionPay has raised the limit on cash withdrawals at overseas ATMs to the equivalent of 10,000 yuan, up from the current 5,000 yuan limit. UnionPay says the adjustment will help the company better meet customer needs, whether for business, tourism, or education.

A recent report shows Chinese tourists spent an average of 21 thousand yuan per person when traveling abroad in 2007. China UnionPay cards can be used at 368,000 ATMs in 45 overseas countries and regions. Card holders can make direct purchases via nearly 200,000 point-of-sale machines at tens of thousands of business outlets around the world.