Recruiting in China

MORE than 70 applicants have signed up for a training program to become professional social workers on a course run by the Labor and Social Security Bureau in Pudong New Area.

Lessons to teach basic knowledge of population and family planning kicked off last week, as part of the long-term program.

About 60 people signed up for the class, but organizers were surprised to find more than 70 joined the course.

"The course is designed to train professionals who can offer counseling services related to population and family planning," said Ji Zhongxian, a bureau official.

The training program, which will hold six classes over 10 days, will focus on introducing theories and concepts that a social worker should know.

Another training class designed for directors of residents' committees will also open soon - attracting more than 500 applicants so far.

The proactive approach focuses on theories and practical skills to solve problems, such as how to settle disputes among residents.

"Social work in Shanghai is still in its infancy and there are very few professional social workers at present," said Zhang Linqiang, bureau spokesman.

Zhang added that there are 20,000 professional social workers in Hong Kong, which has a population of six million. There are only 3,000 professionals in Shanghai, which has a population of 18 million.

"Pudong New Area developed social work as early in the 1990s, but among 60,000 social workers in this area, only about 250 people have obtained the certificate of professional social workers," Zhang said.