China unveiled on Monday initiatives aimed at retraining rural workers, including women, to enhance their employment opportunities as part of the government's broader strategy to strengthen the agricultural sector and stimulate economic growth.

The plan, as detailed in statements from the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, and other government departments, will involve vocational education programs for rural workers, along with initiatives to retrain them for roles in domestic and care services, while also assisting their transition to urban employment. The agencies outlined 14 specific tasks aimed at advancing the retraining of the rural workforce.

The Ministry of Commerce stated that the plan would enhance housing security while improving conditions for rural workers in urban areas to access equal basic public services and facilitating their faster integration into local communities.

China eyes stronger agriculture

This policy comes after Beijing's April unveiling of a decade-long strategy to develop a robust agricultural sector, introduced against a backdrop of rising US-China tensions, slowing economic growth, and increasing climate-related challenges.

Official data shows that China has nearly 300 million rural migrants working in urban areas, with approximately 100 million of these workers expected to reach retirement age within the next decade.

According to the commerce ministry statement, authorities will "guide rural labor with employment needs, especially rural women and poverty-stricken labor to find employment in the domestic service field."

In a report by state broadcaster CCTV, Zou Yunhan, deputy director of the Macroeconomic Research Office under the Economic Forecasting Department of the National Information Center, emphasized that the plan would contribute to enhancing both the supply and quality of workers while more effectively addressing the demands of employers.