China’s Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security, Ministry of Natural
Resources, NDRC and Ministry of Transport issued a joint notice to support the
marine economy and promote jobs. Measures target stabilizing and expanding
employment in traditional marine sectors and developing modern fisheries,
including support for modern marine ranches and distant‑water fishing bases. The
notice prioritizes accelerating port and shipping infrastructure modernization
and expanding maritime employment capacity, while fostering emerging marine
industries — marine pharmaceuticals and bioproducts, energy exploration,
seawater desalination and deep‑sea development — and creating and certifying
related new occupations. It backs new marine services and business models
(marine culture/creative products, high‑end tourism, shipping finance, insurance
and arbitration) and the formation of high‑end shipping talent clusters.
Employment support includes incentives for shipping firms to build in‑house
crew: tax breaks and social‑security subsidies for newly hired eligible workers,
and, for firms that avoid or minimize layoffs, application of job‑stabilization
refunds and special loans for job retention/expansion, all implemented per
existing rules.
