Foreign talent policy improved in Jiangsu

As the independent voice of European business in China since 2000, the European Chamber actively participates in China’s legislative process. Our advocacy activities are widely recognised by the Chinese authorities and maintained through the efforts of our working groups (WGs) and desks.

In 2019, we launched our #becauseofus campaign to show our gratitude for the joint efforts of all stakeholders: governments, think tanks, member companies and our own WG and desk managers. In EURObiz in 2020, we will present four examples of our successful advocacy work, one of which will be selected as the winner of the 2020 #becauseofus campaign.

For this edition, we look at improvements to Jiangsu Province’s foreign talent policy.

Background

Since China began its reform and opening up four decades ago, foreigners have been arriving and contributing to the economic development of China. From experts who provided technological support and knowledge on science, education and culture in the past, to expatriate managers of multinational companies, and now foreign employees working in various industries in China, foreign talent plays an important role in the development of the economy of China. However, there have always been difficulties in bringing foreign talent to China, due to restrictions on qualifications or age of foreign employees, or the ability of enterprises to rotate staff in and out of their China subsidiaries..

Famous for its manufacturing industry, Jiangsu Province is home to many European firms and foreign employees. However, for a long time, the province’s rather outdated foreign talent policy has limited the mobilisation of foreign employees.

In order to help member companies with their issues in hiring foreign employees, since 2015, the European Chamber’s Nanjing Chapter has organised activities aimed at advocating for improvements to foreign talent policy, and has been in touch with the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, the Jiangsu Foreign Experts Bureau, the Jiangsu Exit-Entry Administration Bureau and other relevant local departments.

Results

Through the continuous efforts of the Chamber, some policies on foreign talent have been optimised to a certain extent in the five cities (Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Suzhou, Changzhou, Wuxi) in the South Jiangsu National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone, altering the life trajectory of many foreign employees.

On 30^th December 2016, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security released the Notice on Policies and Measures for Accelerating the Construction of South of Jiangsu’s National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone (please see examples 1 and 2 for more details).

On 1^st February 2018, the Department of Public Security of Jiangsu Province and the Jiangsu Exit and Entry Administration Bureau released the Seven New Measures on Exit and Entry Administration (please see Example 3 for more details)..

The European Chamber is pleased to see the determination and actions of Jiangsu Province to optimise foreign talent policies. According to the Opinions of the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government on Improving the Quality and Stabilising the Utilisation of Foreign Capital, and to Attract, Secure and Stabilise Business Investment, issued in May 2020, the age, academic qualifications and work experience restrictions can be relaxed for talent with innovative, advanced and professional skills, taking into account the actual work requirements and individual circumstances. International students who work at innovative start-ups upon graduation in Jiangsu may apply for the ‘entrepreneurship’ type of residence permit with only a bachelor’s diploma and related innovation and entrepreneurship certificates. This means that foreign technical experts urgently needed by many manufacturing companies can work in China without academic qualifications. Foreign students who are interested in innovating and starting their own businesses will also be freer and have more flexible options to innovate in China.

Nanjing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau:

“The European Chamber submitted Nanjing Position Paper to our Bureau both in 2017 and in 2019, providing valuable advice on Nanjing talent policy, internship of foreign talents, and residencey permit and serving as bridge between the government and firms.”

Nanjing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau

“As Chair of the European Chamber Nanjing Chapter Human Resources Forum, I deeply understand the efforts made by the European Chamber in optimising and improving the foreign talent policy. Thanks to the long-term commitment and hard work of the European Chamber, firms are able to hire foreign employees and benefit from such improvements. In the future, I hope that the European Chamber can continue to speak on behalf of foreign firms in Jiangsu for their rational demands, make suggestions for local business environment optimisation, and contribute to a more open and inclusive Nanjing and Jiangsu.”

Ms Zhang Yuan, Chair of the European Chamber Nanjing Chapter Human Resources Forum:

Policy reference

Notice on Policies and Measures for Accelerating the Construction of South of Jiangsu’s National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone (link in Chinese), <http://www.jshrss.gov.cn/rsrcfww/zcfg/sydwgl/201701/t20170117_204455.html>

Jiangsu Province releases seven New Measures on Exit and Entry Administration (link in Chinese), <http://www.jiangsu.gov.cn/art/2018/2/1/art_60085_7502258.html>