Henan Business Daily
January 8, 2010

The macro-economic indicators may suggest you that the economy is back on track again, but the outlook is still bleak for people who were rendered jobless by the recession and still looking for new rice bowls, especially for those who are no longer in their prime.

Among the many who have learned this firsthand is Lu Zhangong, the Communist Party secretary of Henan Province.

Today's Henan Business Daily reports that Lu, who was on an inspection tour to a prefecture-level city Jiaozuo in Henan, tried his luck at a local job market yesterday. To the dismay of the highest official of the province, Lu was rejected by an "employer" for being too old, despite his influence and connections.

"Though it is freezing cold outside with the daily lowest temperature being minus 7 degrees Celsius, people looking for jobs are crammed cheek by jowl in the Jiaozuo's human resources center. At about 11 o'clock, Secretary Lu Zhangong arrived, to study and research.

"Fengzeyuan Restaurant wants five dishwashers for 600 yuan to 700 yuan per month and a cashier for 700 yuan per month; Yangguang schoolchildren training camp wants 20 trainers, age from 20 to 28 and five teachers, age from 23 to 30, for 750 yuan per month plus bonus and subsidies" While reading the information from the recruitment ads, Lu asked the center's employees how many people were applying and whether the employers had hired enough.

Lu stopped at one service window and sat down. After looking through the jobs on offer from a thick book, he found that a company called Nahai Advertisement was looking for media business development representatives with college degrees, Lu asked a center's employee: "This company doesn't seem to have any age requirement. Can you help me make a phone call and tell them that a 59 years old Mr. Lu want to apply?"

"Hello, is this Nahai Advertisement? This is the job introduction service center. I think you are looking for media representatives. We have a comrade Lu here who want to apply for the job. He is 59. How do you think?"

"That's no good. Too old."

"But you didn't specify the age for this job, didn't you?" the employee persisted. Lu told from his side: "Tell them that I am very experienced, and I am well-connected too."

"He has some experience and connections and he will get you business..." said the assistant to the person on the other side of the phone.

With an embarrassed look, the employee put down the phone. The advertisement agency only want someone younger than 40.

When he left, Lu gave a talk to local officials: "It is very hard for people in their 40s to find work and even harder for those in their 50s, so we should give more priority to the "40-50" people. Employment is very important for people and we must do a good job. Economic growth is half of the solution, we also need to do better in coordination and improve services. If one person in a family can find a job, the life of the whole family would be a lot easier. Most "40-50"s are still able-bodied and capable of work. Many have children who are still too young. We must do our best to provide them with jobs."