File Photo: VCG

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, together with several other ministries, on Tuesday pledged to strengthen temporary assistance with financial subsidies for uninsured people and those facing basic living difficulties, including people affected by the epidemic situation.

A one-time temporary assistance payment will be offered to uninsured workers such as migrant workers who are unable to return to work due to the epidemic, and workers who have had no source of income for three consecutive months and are living in difficulties that are not covered by an unemployment insurance policy.

The efforts are intended to offer help in a timely manner, according to the joint statement by the corresponding government departments on Tuesday.

College graduates who are temporarily unemployed or other families or individuals facing difficulties due to the epidemic will also be included in the scope of the temporary assistance, the statement said.

Since the beginning of this year, frequent outbreaks have had an impact on employment, with the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas across the country fluctuating.

The urban unemployment rate in September was 5.5 percent, up 0.2 percentage points from August, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

In responding to the difficulties, the government has been ramping up efforts to provide help to those suffering from the epidemic situation.

Assistant Finance Minister Ou Wenhan said at a press conference in June that the ministry would facilitate tax refund policies for small and micro enterprises affected by the epidemic.

Data from the tax department shows that from April to May 31, about 1.34 trillion yuan of tax credits had been refunded.

The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission has also come up with measures to strengthen financial support for enterprises in industries affected by the epidemic.