With the national government work report calling for greater efforts to stabilize and expand employment, how to enhance the attractiveness of front-line jobs and support the rights of flexible workers have become hot topics.

NPC deputy from Shandong's Himile Group Wang Qinfeng calls for more young workers to get engaged in the manufacturing industry. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Breathing new life into the front lines of the manufacturing industry

Wang Qinfeng, deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) and employee of Himile Group in Shandong province, has felt the urgency of attracting young people to work on the front lines of the manufacturing industry.

During his recent survey and visits, he noticed that many enterprises are facing a structural contradiction in which some workers have no work to do while at the same time certain jobs remain unfilled.

"The front line's potential should be fully tapped to make workshops and factories more appealing to young people searching for jobs," said Wang.

It is necessary to accelerate the construction of a skills-based pay system, as mentioned in the government work report, and to improve the treatment of skilled workers, he added.

In 2024, more than 90 percent of employees at Himile Group participated in innovation-related work, with bonuses of more than 11 million yuan ($1.52 million) directly distributed, according to Wang.