Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Issues Opinions on Reforming and Improving the Skills Talent Evaluation System
To implement the spirit of the Guiding Opinions on Classified Reform of the Talent Evaluation Mechanism and other relevant documents, and in accordance with the State Council's requirements for advancing the reform to streamline administration, delegate powers, and improve government services, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security recently issued the Opinions on Reforming and Improving the Skills Talent Evaluation System (hereinafter referred to as the Opinions). The Opinions clarify that the skills talent evaluation system shall be improved to establish a scientific, socialized, and diversified evaluation mechanism; that reform shall be deepened with diversified evaluation, scientific fairness, and a use-oriented approach; and that the roles of multiple entities, including government, employers, and social organizations, shall be leveraged to establish a skills talent evaluation system primarily based on vocational qualification evaluation, vocational skill level recognition, and specialized vocational competency assessment, creating an institutional environment conducive to the growth and contribution of skilled talents and enabling outstanding skilled talents to emerge.
The Opinions require deepening reform of the vocational qualification system for skilled personnel and improving the vocational qualification catalog. Entry-type qualifications shall remain in the catalog. Level-evaluation qualifications related to public interests or involving national security, public safety, personal health, or safety of life and property shall be converted into entry-type qualifications in accordance with laws and regulations. Level-evaluation qualifications not closely related to national security, public safety, personal health, or safety of life and property shall be gradually removed from the catalog. For occupations (job types) among them that are widely applicable in society, highly specialized, and have high technical skill requirements, vocational skill level recognition may be implemented according to economic and social development needs.
The Opinions propose establishing and promoting a vocational skill level system, under which employers and social training and evaluation organizations shall conduct vocational skill level recognition in accordance with relevant regulations. Qualified employers may independently conduct recognition for their own employees based on actual conditions, and may provide recognition services to persons outside their organizations in accordance with regulations. Qualified social training and evaluation organizations may conduct recognition for all workers according to market and employment needs.
The Opinions emphasize establishing and improving a multi-tiered and interconnected occupational standards system composed of national vocational skill standards, industry and enterprise evaluation specifications, specialized vocational competency assessment specifications, and other elements, and improving the mechanism for developing occupational standards.
The Opinions point out that evaluation content and methods shall be improved, with emphasis on evaluating integrity, competence, and performance. In accordance with regulations, multiple assessment methods shall be comprehensively applied, including theoretical knowledge examinations, practical skill assessments, performance reviews, competition-based selection, and enterprise-school cooperation, to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of evaluations.
The Opinions emphasize establishing a catalog management system for skills talent evaluation work and implementing dynamic adjustments. Certificate issuance management shall be standardized, and vocational skill level certificates shall be issued by employers and social training and evaluation organizations.
The Opinions require accelerating the transformation of government functions, further clarifying the roles of government, markets, employers, and social organizations in talent evaluation, and establishing a talent evaluation management system with clear authority and responsibility, scientific management, and coordinated efficiency. Government macro-management of talent evaluation, policy and regulation formulation, public services, supervision and safeguards shall be improved. Social organizations, market institutions, enterprises, colleges, and other entities are encouraged and supported to serve as social training and evaluation organizations and provide skills evaluation services.