BEIJING: China’s Ministry of Commerce, together with eight other government departments, on Monday introduced 19 policy measures aimed at advancing the high-quality development of the domestic services industry, stimulating consumer demand, and addressing key obstacles affecting the sector.
The measures are centered on five priorities: expanding support for domestic service companies, promoting institutional innovation, enhancing vocational skills training, improving the credit information platform system, and strengthening the industry’s overall foundation.
Under the new policies, insurers are encouraged to create products specifically designed for the domestic services sector. The measures also support domestic service providers in participating in the long-term care service system and seek to expand social insurance coverage for domestic workers engaged in flexible employment.
Additionally, the policies encourage eligible local governments to explore lawful approaches to better safeguard workers’ rights and interests. They also call for the development of employment guidelines for domestic service enterprises, the introduction of standardized service agreements, updates to national occupational standards, and improvements to vocational skills assessment systems.
The measures further emphasize stronger credit verification and information sharing, improved model contracts and industry standards, enhanced service quality evaluations, and stricter oversight of pricing practices.
Earlier this month, China unveiled a five-year plan to boost consumption, which calls for increasing the supply of high-quality domestic services, improving workforce skills, strengthening service standards, and fostering leading enterprises and recognized brands within the industry.
A national plan implementing the employment-first strategy for the 2026â2030 period, released in June, also highlighted the need to expand and upgrade domestic services, strengthen urban and rural eldercare and childcare service networks, and create more employment opportunities in these sectors.
