China on the move: Creating job opportunities for women

Watch Video

Play Video

Women, especially those middle-aged, often find themselves at a disadvantage when searching for jobs. More is now being done to create opportunities for them. CCTV reporter Zhang Lu went to Wanzhou in Chongqing to see how the problem is being addressed.

A traditional Chinese art a new way to make a living.

Qin Liqin used to be a farmer. But the construction of the Three Gorges Dam submerged her home and land.

Her entire family moved to a suburb of Chongqing where she needed to find a new job.

Qin Liqin, resident of Wanzhou, Chongqing, said, "I began to learn embroidery starting in January. I think it's good. It's a clean job and the working hours are flexible. Now I can earn around 900 yuan every month."

Qin got her start in a free training program provided by the local government.

Like Qin, all these women here were looking for a chance at a better job.

What attracted them to the course was not simply the opportunity to learn a skill but also the job the course provided them with.

Deng Aihui, head of Wanzhou Employment Training Center, said, "In order to make the training more useful and effective, we explored a new model. We set up an embroidery company and we organized the training program based on our market demand. We make sure we have enough orders before we initiate training courses. So, they become employed as soon as they attend our training class."

Deng says the sales volume of the embroidery last year reached 1.2 million yuan and the business keeps growing.

The courses are called "Training plus Employment" and provide more choices for women in need.