China rolls out new rules to help veterans find jobs and start businesses

The regulations come days after Chinese President Xi Jinping calls for military service to be ‘respected by the whole society’

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New rules require China’s veterans to “maintain military secrets, uphold and promote the glorious traditions and fine conduct of the People’s Liberation Army” after their transition into civilian life. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:00pm, 2 Aug 2024

Beijing has rolled out new rules to help veterans start businesses and advance their education, responding to social pressure to improve welfare for military personnel transitioning to civilian life.

Under the new regulations, state institutions that hire veterans must relax age and educational requirements – a departure from common recruitment policies around the country with rules such as age caps of 35.

Veterans will also be entitled to preferential treatment when competing against equally qualified non-veterans for jobs.

The changes were released by the Central Military Commission and the State Council as an update to regulations in place since 2011, according to a document made public by state news agency Xinhua on Thursday.

The rules will come into effect on September 1.

The regulations say that state institutions that hire veterans may not raise hiring conditions or requirements beyond the thresholds set by national policies, and organisations that violate this rule will be subject to disciplinary action.

They also encourage veterans to start their own businesses with help from government initiatives, market guidance and social support.