Graduates Targeted by Job Scams: China Calls for Concerted Efforts to Protect JobSeekers
BEIJING, August 27, 2024 – A growing number of Chinese college graduates are falling victim to job scams, prompting authorities to call for a multi-pronged approach to protectvulnerable job seekers. The issue has become particularly acute in recent months, with unscrupulous companies and individuals exploiting the eagerness of recent graduates to enter the workforce.
Thescams often involve deceptive promises of high-paying jobs at prestigious companies. Recruitment agencies, training institutions, and self-proclaimed mentors use false advertising and social media manipulation to lure unsuspecting students into paying exorbitant fees for services that oftenfail to deliver. Some even resort to fake internships and training loans, leaving graduates saddled with debt and no job prospects.
The harm caused by these ‘leek-cutting’ scams is significant, warned an editorialpublished in the Economic Daily, a state-run newspaper. On one hand, we have companies and individuals with established schemes and entire supply chains. On the other hand, many graduates lack social experience and are easily lured by promises of success, making them prime targets for exploitation.
The editorial emphasized the vulnerability of graduates, who often hesitate to report scams due to fear or shame. This silence only serves to embolden the perpetrators and exacerbate the problem.
If this issue is not addressed, it will negatively impact the healthy development of the job market and even social stability, the editorial stated.
To combat this growing threat, thegovernment and various stakeholders are urged to take a comprehensive approach. This includes:
1. Establishing a Job Market Integrity System: This system should encompass employers, recruitment agencies, graduates, and universities. Employers should be held accountable for breach of contracts, particularly in cases of mass layoffs. Recruitment agencies must operate within legal andethical boundaries, while universities should educate students on job market integrity and empower them to defend their rights.
2. Strengthening Job Market Governance: A collaborative effort involving human resources, education, and judicial authorities is crucial. Streamlining complaint channels and increasing penalties for fraudulent recruitment agencies are essential steps. Local governments should prioritize thepromotion of a healthy business environment and enhance the quality of human resource services. Regular inspections and crackdowns on illegal recruitment activities should be conducted.
3. Implementing a Job Market Early Warning Mechanism: A blacklist system should be established to identify and publicly expose unqualified recruitment agencies and fraudulent services. Educational campaigns should belaunched to raise awareness about emerging scams and provide graduates with the tools to identify and avoid them. Data-driven analysis and predictive models can help graduates make informed career choices and facilitate a better match between job seekers and employers.
The Economic Daily concluded by calling for a two-way journey between graduates and employers,urging both sides to work together to create a fair and transparent job market.
This is a collective responsibility, the editorial stressed. Only by building a strong shield against ‘leek-cutting’ scams can we ensure a healthy and stable job market and pave the way for graduates to successfully enter the workforce.
【source】http://www.chinanews.com/sh/2024/08-27/10275103.shtml
Views: 2