Zhejiang authorities incentivize workers not to travel

As the Lunar New Year approaches and new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases have not yet been eliminated in China, authorities in East China's Zhejiang province recently issued various policies to incentivize local workers not to return to their hometowns during the Spring Festival travel rush.

In Ningbo's Zhenhai district, workers who have a household registration outside the city and are employees of above-designated-size, privately-owned companies or contractors of major construction projects can receive a 100-yuan ($15.68) government subsidy for each day they spend at their job post from Jan 26 to Feb 10.

In Jiaxing's Haiyan county, workers who have a household registration outside the county can apply for up to 800 yuan in government subsidies if their direct relatives come visit them from Jan 18 to Feb 6.

In Haining, a county-level city administered by Jiaxing, above-designated-size enterprises that generate operating revenue in the first quarter that is above the average of the previous two quarters can apply for up to one million yuan in government subsidies.

On Dec 29, the Shaoxing municipal government announced that it will earmark a dedicated funding of 1.5 billion yuan for consumer coupons, small-and-medium sized companies' allowances, and workers' cash subsidies during the Spring Festival travel rush.