Six ministries and commissions, including the Central Committee for Comprehensive Management and the Ministry of Justice, recently issued the Opinions on Further Improving the Employment and Social Security of Ex-prisoners. According to the opinion, before the end of 2005, the state will give preferential policies such as three-year exemption from business tax, urban maintenance and construction tax, education surcharge and personal income tax to released prisoners and those who have been released from reeducation through labor to engage in self-employment.

The "Opinions" stipulate that these two types of personnel can participate in the training of re-employment designated units organized by labor and social security departments at all levels, and if they pass the examination and achieve employment, the training fees can be reduced or exempted according to relevant regulations. In addition, the state will also provide tax support to the employment entities established or recognized by the judicial administrative organs and the labor and social security departments. Among them, if more than 40% of the total number of employees are resettled and released from reeducation through labor, they can be exempted from enterprise income tax for 3 years. (Author/Wang Yang) (Source: Jinghua Times)