As growth slows, China worries about job losses

Beijing

AS growth in China's sagging economy looks on the verge of falling below 7 per cent, officials worried about a spike in unemployment are pulling out all the stops to avoid mass layoffs.

State firms are encouraged to keep idle workers employed, subsidies and tax breaks are given to companies that do not fire their workers, and some businesses are even enticed into hiring despite the slackening economic growth.