Age limit raised for hukou applicants

BEIJING, Feb. 22 -- Skilled workers older than 35 now have a chance of getting Shenzhen hukou, after the municipal labor authorities lifted the upper age limit from 35 to 45.

The upper age limit for their spouses has been also extended to 45, officials of the Shenzhen Municipal Labor and Social Security Bureau said at a news conference Wednesday.

The move is aimed at attracting more skilled workers to the city. Shenzhen now has a shortage of skilled workers of 15 kinds, such as shop salespeople, mechanicians and electricians.

Previously, some skilled workers working in Shenzhen were denied Shenzhen hukou only because they were more than 35 years of age.

In addition, the labor authorities also adopted 10 other measures related to application of Shenzhen hukou. Employers are now required to have purchased work injury insurance for their workers for at least six months before the workers are eligible to apply for hukou.

Employers are now required to have purchased work injury insurance for their workers for at least six months before the workers are eligible to apply for hukou.

Those who work and own an apartment inside the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) but have been registered residents of Bao'an or Longgang districts outside the SEZ for at least five years, can apply for SEZ hukou, according to one of the new measures.

Skilled workers must pass qualification tests organized by the labor authorities before they can receive hukou. Applications will be accepted from March 3.

Labor authorities will hold various competitions in June to find more skilled workers.

Employers have been reminded to hand in applications at licensed human resources service centers designated by the labor authorities. The service centers will help employers go through the procedures.

The city gave hukou to 30,000 skilled workers last year.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily)