Layoffs 'won't hurt' population boost

The occurrence of worker layoffs amid China's efforts to cut overcapacity won't affect people's hope for more children, the spokesman for China's national political advisory body said on Wednesday.

Wang Guoqing, spokesman for the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told a news conference that such job losses are temporary and relaxation of the one-child policy was "a carefully made decision".

China will work to ensure that its population grows in an orderly way, Wang told reporters ahead of the country's annual two sessions, which begin on Thursday for the CPPCC and on Saturday for the National People's Congress.

On Jan 1, China abolished the one-child policy and now allows all couples to have two children. Since China is a rapidly aging society, concerns have arisen about an insufficient labor force.

According to estimates, the coal and steel sectors will see combined layoffs totaling 1.8 million workers as the world's second-largest economy tries to revitalize its industrial sector by cutting overcapacity.

To cushion the effect of job losses on families and society, the central government will allocate 100 billion yuan ($15.27 billion) over two years to help laid-off workers find new jobs.