Archives November 2009

Graduates pick study over job market

More than 30 percent of college graduates choose postgraduate study over job hunting because they believe looking for work is too difficult, a study shows.

Zhang Xiaochu, director of Haidian human resource service center, said 33.7 percent of the 2,641 college students surveyed said they would study for a higher degree, including 8.58 percent of respondents who want to study abroad.

He said the employment situation remains challenging because of the financial crisis, intense competition and the gap between employers’ expectations and the capability of graduates.

The Beijing municipal education commission said last week that there were about 209,000 university graduates in Beijing in 2009 and more than 10,000 graduates have still not found a job.

These people will continue to fight for jobs against 219,000 fresh graduates in 2010, making job hunting even more intense.

“We can not find satisfactory jobs and so many classmates of mine choose to study further,” said Cui Yan, who graduated from Capital University of Economics and Business in the summer of 2009.

He said 10 out of the 34 people in his class who did not find jobs immediately are planning to study further.

Cui was employed at a public relations agency in July but quit because he thought the job was too hard and the wage too low. He said many of his classmates had similar wage expectations.

“I think our mentality has a little problem,” Cui said.

He said they cannot put up with the busy work and are not satisfied with their salary.

The report from Zhang’s center also found employers need employees who can work independently as soon as possible, but the biggest problems graduates face is a lack of experience.

The Haidian human resource service center and the Renmin University of China conducted the survey in July.

As many as 3,275 questionnaires were sent out to 36 colleges in Beijing and 2,641 effective replies were collected, about 70 percent of who will graduate in 2010.

AstraZeneca to move production of raw materials for drugs to China

AstraZeneca plans to move all production of the vital molecules in its medicines offshore, mainly to China.

The pharmaceuticals company’s cost-cutting drive, which will continue for some years, means that it will cease to produce or source active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in the UK.

The manufacturing shift to Asia could lead to job losses and either plant closures or a sale to another company, but an Astra spokesman said no decisions had yet been made. “Over the next several years we would seek to outsource all of our active ingredients,” he said.

In the UK, Astra makes APIs for cholesterol and schizophrenia drugs in a factory at Avlon, near Bristol, which employs 300 people. An option for that facility could be a sale to a third party but no decision has been taken, the Astra spokesman said.

Astra has ended the production of active ingredients at its main UK factory in Macclesfield and has been building up its manufacturing presence in China with a big factory in Wuxi, which in addition to making APIs, also does medicine formulation and packaging.

The decision by Astra to shift offshore the entire process of making active ingredients will ring alarm bells in Britain’s chemical sector, which has suffered huge losses in the recent downturn.

According to figures compiled by the Chemical Industries Association, Britain’s trade in pharmaecutical ingredients moved into positive balance over the past year after a decade of deficits. Anecdotal evidence suggested some UK-based chemical companies were getting contracts from drug companies that had experienced quality-control problems in India and China.

The outsourcing of the active molecule in a medicine is an important trend among drug companies and is increasing, said James Knight, chemicals analyst at Collins Stewart, the broker. “There is a move to outsource more and more of the basic ingredients from Asia,” he said.

The threat to makers of pharmaceutical ingredients comes at a time when the UK chemical industry is reeling from a sudden fall in demand from manufacturers. A big chemical site, originally developed by ICI in the northeast of England, has come under threat after a decision by Dow Chemical, the American company, to cease production at its ethylene oxide plant. The integrated nature of the site means that the decision has put neighbouring plants, both suppliers and buyers, under pressure.

Robert Tyler, president of the Chemical Industries Association, said the pressure could become too great for some companies. “If the final decision on ethylene oxide is negative, then there will be more job losses. We have put a plaster on it for a year. A lot of companies will say we are returning to demand levels in 2005 and they will restructure.”

AstraZeneca last month reported that pre-tax profits for the third quarter rose 27 per cent to $3.4 billion (£2 billion), as revenue rose by 5 per cent to $8.2 billion.

Pressure builds on employees

Nearly nine out of 10 Chinese workers are under growing pressure at work as China leads the world toward economic recovery, a global survey has found.

The survey by Regus, a US-based provider of workplace solutions, polled 11,000 companies in 13 countries during August and September. It found 58 percent of companies worldwide had seen a rise in workplace stress during the preceding two years.

“Nearly 86 percent of Chinese people report that their levels of stress had become ‘higher’ or ‘much higher’ during the past two years,” the survey noted.

The smallest increase in stress worldwide was felt in Germany and the Netherlands, with a respective 48 percent and 47 percent of workers saying they had experienced more stress.

With the World Bank forecasting China’s GDP will grow by 8.4 percent this year, indicating the country is well on the way to recovery, Chinese workers are at the sharp end of the world’s efforts to rebound.

“While their international counterparts feel stressed as a result of the global economic downturn, the stress faced by Chinese workers is twofold,” said Hans Leijten, regional vice-president of East Asia for the Regus Group. “On the one hand, they must react fast to the new opportunities provided by a country that maintains a higher-than-8-percent GDP growth. On the other hand, they have to deal with the retraction challenges presented by the global economic downturn.”

About 42 percent of Chinese workers said they were particularly stressed about the increasing focus on profitability.

Among the stressed workers, 28 percent said maintaining excellent levels of customer service was the main reason for their sleepless nights.

Another survey, from the Horizon Research Group, said respondents quizzed in June complained that the global financial crisis had contributed to rising pressure among Chinese workers.

About 34.2 percent of people interviewed for that survey said the crisis had increased workplace pressure.

Those most affected by the added stress were in the 24-30 age group and the majority worked for foreign-invested enterprises, the report said.

Most of the pressure at work came from career development, performance appraisal and salary issues.

In the midst of the downturn, employees were involved in fewer malpractices, were more likely to volunteer to do overtime and more inclined to postpone planned leave.

Both surveys reflect Chinese society, where many employees are inclined to put in long hours.

“Karoshi”, or death from chronic overworking, is no longer a phenomenon reserved for the Japanese. In China, there have been reports of employees dying on the job. Early this month, a young software engineer at a video website died at his desk after putting in a series of 13-hour days.

“The pressure does not necessarily ease with different economic situations,” said Sam Liu, a 31-year-old marketing strategy manager with a global company. “You have one kind of pressure in good times and another kind in bad times.

“I have time to sleep. But I have to sacrifice my hobbies and the time I would like to spend with my friends.”

Among the reasons why some Chinese people work so hard is the massive competition within the vast workforce.

“There is always another guy who is willing to do 12 things when your boss has asked you to do 10 things.

“You deal with the pressure or you quit,” Liu said. “It is up to you.”

College graduates job fair opens in Nanjing

The annual college graduates job-hunting fair has also opened in Nanjing of Jiangsu Province. Over 42,000 employment opportunities from nearly 1,000 companies are being offered at the event. Figure show, that Jiangsu Province will have a record high of 532,000 fresh college graduates this year. But the event participating companies is only offering 3 percent more jobs compared with a year ago.

In order to get employed, many graduates have lowered their expectations for salaries. Experts say, one of the best ways to boost the employment rate is to improve program designs at universities.

Wang Shufeng, Head of Student Enroll of China Institute of Industrial Relations said “Previously, our graduates could not find a suitable position even after taking 10 job interviews. After some research and study, we realized that our school program and training designs should meet the real social human resource demand. So now, 90 percent of our students today could seal a employment contract before official graduation ceremony.”

Professor Cheng Yanyuan, School of Industrial Relations & HR, Renmin University said “Professional schools at high education institutions should focus on the areas they are good at. They should be able to provide professional talents in specific fields. Program designs at big universities should also have some adjustments to emphasis their unique characteristics. “

Hong Kong’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 5.2%

HONG KONG, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) — Hong Kong’s unemployment rate for the three months ended October fell slightly to 5.2 percent, the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said Tuesday.

The unemployment rate in the three-month period ended September, in comparison, was 5.3 percent, while that in the three-month period ended August was 5.4 percent.

Decreases in the unemployment rate were mainly observed in the construction, food services, insurance and wholesale sectors, the department said.

The Labor and Welfare Department said the further decrease reflected that the labor market has continued to show signs of improvement along with economic recovery.

“In particular, the unemployment rate of youths aged 15 to 19 dropped notably by 3 percentage points to 22.7 percent, indicating that the youth employment situation is gradually improving,” Secretary for Labor and Welfare Matthew Cheung said.

“It is clear that the (HKSAR) government’s all-out efforts to create jobs in the construction sector are continuing to bear fruit,” he added.

Cheung said the near-term outlook would depend mainly on the pace of the economic recovery and job creation.

“As business conditions continue to improve, employers are expected to adopt a more positive attitude towards new hiring. This will ease the pressure on unemployment,” he said.

Nevertheless, Cheung said the decrease in total employment in the latest round of figures suggested that it might take some time for the labor market to keep up with the pace of economic rebound.

“A sustained and solid recovery still hinges on a fundamental improvement in the external environment. We will remain vigilant and continue to monitor closely the labor market situation,” he said.

QC Line Manager (eo238sh)

Job Title: QC Line Manager
Location: __MinHang, Shanghai___
Our client is famous Confectionery Manufacturing company.

Responsibilities
1. Lead On-line Quality Control team in Shanghai (inclusive of both SH1 and SH2 Plant)
2. To ensure the quality of in-process products is matching agreed standard.
3. Ensuring adherence to National Standards relevant to Hygiene and Product Quality.
4. Using advanced quality measure to continuously monitor and improve the quality of products.

Requirements:
5. Line inspection team management
a) Manage QC line inspection Team and Performance, targeting preventive rather than corrective approach
b) Responsible for in-process inspection of the factory both in SH2 and SH1 based on agreed sampling plan and control procedures
c) To set and update inspection working procedure and relative control sheet.
d) To take immediately action to/with relevant personnel (Manufacturing manager and so on) when non-conforming or latent is detected.
e) To supervise the hygiene situation of the factory.
f) To direct and co-ordinate the work of QC line supervisor.
6. Data Statistics
a) To continuously control and improve in-process quality level by advanced quality measure, such as SPC etc.
b) To summarize the quality of in process control (IPQCP) and its product every month and report them in cumulative charts (trend analysis). To organize the quality meeting monthly, to analyze the nonconforming and set the purpose with relevant department and trace the improvement action.
c) To help handle and analysis customer complaining form market together with other function, and follow up (co-ordinate, trace and feedback) the actions done by related function based on corrective and preventive action and evaluates the results.
7. Technique support for other functions
a) To assist the new product development through advanced QC tools and fulfill other tasks while requires.
b) To improve the quality level through the implementation and participation of the new project.
c) To train the relative personnel in terms of in-process inspection.
d) To transfer quality awareness to employees whenever is necessary.
e) Participate in contamination meeting termly, discuss and improve the contamination problems in process or the potential problems. Make sure it can be improved.
8. People and Organizational Development
a) Ensure proper definition, monitoring and assessment of individual and QC line inspection team objectives, in alignment with QC team objectives
b) Finalize regular performance appraisal and evaluate / propose / follow up personal development plans, focusing on key performers and talents
c) Ensure adequate training (on the job and external) and personal / team growth by mentoring and coaching, aiming at developing specific job related capabilities as well as increasing project management and technical and technologically related skills

* Please send us your complete resume (in Chinese and in English) to: ‘topjob_eo238sh@dacare.com'(Please replace “#” with “@”)
* In the email subject please include the position name and job #

Senior Associate (labor law) – PRC Lawyers only

Company introduction: Our client is a reputable independent international European law firm. They provide comprehensive labor and commercial law advice to medium-sized companies, major corporations and industry groups as well as the public sector. With appr. 320 lawyers and tax advisers in 13 locations in 6 countries they are able to provide comprehensive legal and tax advice in national and international matters throughout the world.

Job Title: Senior Associate (labor law) – PRC Lawyers only
Job Description:
Report To: __Head of SH office (German Partner)________________
Location: Shanghai
– Handling labor related legal and business advice matters, and provide support in the areas of commerce and FDI.
– Communicating with clients to obtain requirements and maintain updates
– Anticipate and communicate on legal and administrative requirements & opportunities
– Provide advise with clients for legally sites’ management and review contracts
– Able to maintain and develop a solid client base
– Work accordingly with central government and local administrations
– Manage and develop a Junior Associate

Job Requirements:
– 5 – 6 years PQE as a practicing lawyer specializing in labor and commercial law in a foreign law firm, possibly additional experience with FDI
– University graduate (L.L.B or L.L.M.) in law from a recognized law school with excellent academic credentials. PRC BAR is strongly preferred
– Demonstrated experience dealing with foreign clients
– Previous overseas study experience would be a strong asset
– Excellent written and oral skills in English and Chinese
– Demonstrated ability to work efficiently, meet demanding deadlines, and balance multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
– Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a variety of personalities across diverse internal groups, teams and divisions
– Excellent organizational skills, outstanding analytical and drafting skills, in particular in English
– Self-motivated and willing to learn

* Please send us your complete resume (in Chinese and in English) to: ‘topjob_la022sh@dacare.com'(Please replace “#” with “@”)
* In the email subject please include the position name and job #

Macao’s median monthly employment earnings remains stable in Q3

MACAO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) — The median monthly employment earnings of the employed population in Macao amounted to 8,500 patacas (1,076 U.S. dollars) in the third quarter of this year, the same level as that of the second quarter, according to the figures released Thursday by the city’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

The figures showed that the median monthly employment earnings of the employed residents held stable as the previous quarter in the period, at 10,000 patacas (1,265 U.S. dollars).

Total labor force in Macao stood at 328,000 in the third quarter, with 316,000 being employed. Analyzed by industry, the majority of the employed were engaging in recreational, cultural, gaming and other services (23.2 percent) and hotels, restaurants and similar activities (14.1 percent).

Meanwhile, the unemployed population was 12,000 in the period, of which 82.4 percent were searching for a new job, while 17.6 percent were fresh labor force entrants searching for their first job. With regard to the educational attainment, 34.6 percent of the unemployed had primary education or lower, 29 percent had junior secondary education and 19.8 percent had senior secondary education, according to the DSEC.

Pharma’s Hiring! (In China)

By James A. White

The global drug industry’s long push into China continued today, as Novartis said it plans to spend $1 billion to expand its R&D center in Shanghai. Dow Jones has the details.

CEO Daniel Vasella said the company’s Shanghai work force will grow from 160 to about 1,000, putting it on par with Novartis’s research center in Cambridge, Mass. Novartis’s Basel research center will remain the largest for the Swiss company, which spent $7.2 billion on R&D last year.

“I think it will be a signal of China’s rising importance in the pharmaceutical industry,” Vasella told Dow Jones during a visit to Beijing, where the investment was announced. “You have to ask yourself where do you need to be down the road, and clearly it is here.”

Drug manufacturing has been shifting to China for a long time. More recently, U.S. and European companies have begun expanding their R&D operations there as well, as we noted last year when Genzyme said it planned to spend $90 million on an R&D shop in Beijing.

And as Eli Lilly reminded us recently, companies continue to hire in China and other emerging markets, even as they cut positions in the U.S. and other established markets.

China Update: Novartis said today it plans to buy 85% of a closely held Chinese vaccine maker for $125 million if Chinese authorities approve the deal. Dow Jones Newswires notes in its story that China is the world’s third-largest vaccine market.

Microsoft not to Slash Jobs in Greater China

Microsoft announced it is cutting its global workforce again. The company says in a report that it will cut a further 800 jobs in various departments worldwide, bringing the number of jobs axed to 58 hundred, 800 more than the target announced this year.

Chen Ranfeng, the spokesman for Microsoft China, says that the China branch is not included in the cutbacks.

Microsoft announced early this year that it would cut 5 thousand jobs by June 2010, which is the biggest job cutting move since Microsoft was founded 34 years ago.

Microsoft says that it will continue recruitment in some key fields, but it didn’t mention whether it would further cut the workforce in near future.