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China SOEs told to stop social welfare services

Move is part of plan to cut financial burden on heavily indebted state-owned firms

Published Sun, Dec 18, 2016 · 09:50 PM
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Pingdingshan, China

CHINA has ordered state firms to smash the decades-old system of providing cradle-to-grave welfare support, known as the country's "iron rice bowl".

But the order, part of a plan to reduce financial pressure on bloated and heavily indebted state-owned enterprises (SOEs), is likely to be easier said than done as cities navigate the social and financial wrenches the changes will cause.

At the heart of soot-covered Pingdingshan in central China is the Pingmei Shenma Group, a state coal conglomerate that dominates the economy, society and air of the heavily polluted city in Henan province.

Apart from coal, it has chemicals…

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