Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

Zhuhai will cultivate and discover 500 Craftsmen and 20 Supreme Craftsmen within five years and subsidize them with 100,000 yuan ($14,807) and 600,000 yuan to be paid in equal installments over two and five years respectively.

Aimed at promoting a craftsmanship spirit, the Zhuhai Human Resources & Social Security and Finance bureaus have jointly launched measures specifying rewards for highly skilled workers.

Zhuhai Craftsmen are required to have at least one year of technique-related working experience and should be included in the social security system. National vocational qualifications beyond senior workers are necessary. Otherwise they must prove that they have mastered the same level of skills.

In addition, their annual salary must exceed 100,000 yuan and they must have won prizes at international, national and provincial vocational skill competitions in the past five years (hose named Zhuhai Technical Experts and companies' technical chiefs are exempt from the latter requirement). Mastery of unique skills and socioeconomic contributions are also a must.

A Zhuhai Supreme Craftsman must have national vocational qualifications beyond technician level or demonstrate the same level of skills. More than three years of technique-related working experience is required, as is an annual income of more than 200,000 yuan. They must have been listed in the social security system for more than three years.

Companies can recommend candidates for Zhuhai Craftsmen. They are then evaluated by experts who select individuals for further designation as Zhuhai Supreme Craftsmen. 

According to officials, those eligible will enjoy preferential treatment in various aspects of daily life such as children's schooling and housing. 

Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai holds a Craftsmen Competition annually to discover outstanding skilled workers. [Photo courtesy WeChat ID: zhxiangzhou]