A new administrative regulation aimed at comprehensively promoting employment and entrepreneurship for veterans will come into force on August 1, 2026. On June 26, Premier Li Qiang signed State Council Order No. 840, promulgating the Regulations on Promoting Employment and Entrepreneurship for Veterans, which were adopted at the 88th executive meeting of the State Council.
The regulations consist of six chapters and 48 articles, systematically stipulating measures on education and training, employment support, entrepreneurship assistance, and legal liability. The basic principle combines universal benefits with preferential treatment, adopting a model driven by the government, guided by the market, and supported by society.
In education and training, the regulations encourage veterans to pursue academic and vocational education. Students who were already admitted to or enrolled in higher education institutions before enlistment may resume their studies within two years after discharge, and may transfer to other majors within the same institution according to regulations. Vocational skills training is oriented towards improving employment quality, with free training organized for self-employed non-commissioned officers and conscripts, along with a training subsidy system. Training providers are selected by local veterans' affairs departments from higher education institutions, vocational schools, and professional training organizations, with a quality evaluation system based on trainee satisfaction, vocational skill assessments, and post-training employment outcomes.
In employment support, the regulations require government agencies, mass organizations, public institutions, and state-owned enterprises to appropriately relax age and education requirements when recruiting, give preference to veterans under equal conditions, and may set aside a certain percentage of positions specifically for veterans. Local governments will also reserve a number of grassroots civil servant positions for veteran college graduates who have served at least five years. The regulations also clarify that military service years count as work years, and the service experience of retired officers in units at or below the regimental level is considered grassroots work experience.
Entrepreneurship support measures include tax benefits for veteran-operated individual businesses, access to guaranteed startup loans and interest subsidies, encouragement for financial institutions to provide tailored financial products, and guidance for social capital to establish startup funds for veterans. Government-invested or co-built startup bases and parks may designate special areas to serve veterans on a priority basis, while government service halls are required to set up veteran counters or green lanes.
The regulations also stipulate legal liability for wrongdoing by staff and veterans who fraudulently obtain benefits, and specify that officers, non-commissioned officers, and conscripts who retire from the Chinese People's Armed Police Force according to law are also covered.