At the age of 50, Qiu Si lost the Beijing governmental job she held since she was 18.
Yet the 32-year veteran was grateful, not bitter, because that March 2001 firing led her to her wonderful new life.
Qiu bought a computer in May and started writing stories for newspapers and magazines.
"As a freelance writer, I have fulfilled my dream to be a writer," Qiu said. "I found my second youth when I got laid off and got more free time."
Indeed, tens of thousands of city employees laid off in a two-year-long reorganization are happy because they found new life and opportunity.
The restructuring, started in January 2000 at the call of the central government, intended to slice the municipal government workforce in half. The government is freeing itself of functions concerning corporate management. Some other administrative functions will be lowered to local community committees for the convenience of residents.
Government offices have worked to reduce redundant work, cut costs and increase efficiency, said Beijing Mayor Liu Qi in his 2000 report to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, the city's top legislature body.
Workers who don't opt to retire must compete for new posts in lower-level offices, go back to school or find jobs by their own.
"The reform in our office can be seen as a big success because, generally speaking, everybody turns out happy either staying or leaving," said Yuan Lei, director of the Donggaodi Subdistrict Office in Fengtai District.
That office, which oversees dozens of neighbourhood committees, cut 20 percent of its staff through lay-offs and retirement packages.
Section chiefs were selected through competition, but those over 47 years old generally weren't permitted to compete, Yuan said.
There are other jobs out there for those who do not want to retire.
Special personnel fairs targeting job candidates in their 40s and above were held recently in Beijing.
Some institutes are offering jobs only to women over 40 and men over 45.
The Chaoyang District Bureau for Labour and Social Security said such job fairs will be held once a week in the district during 2002.
(China Daily January 3, 2002)
