A senior government official said in Beijing Tuesday that China's laid-off workers totaled 6.5 million at the end of last year, and more than 90 percent of them are receiving basic living allowances from the government

Zhang Zuoyi, minister of labor and social security, said at a press conference at the on-going session of the Ninth National People's Congress that a total of 4.92 million laid-off workers were re-employed last year.

China's state-owned sector is expected to lay off five million workers this year, Zhang said.

Zhang Zuoyi also said at a press conference at the ongoing session of the Ninth National People's Congress that the additional laid-offs will bring the total number of laid-off workers to 11.5 million in 2000, compared with 11.74 million in 1999. Of the laid-off workers last year, 4.92 million were re-employed.

The minister pledged to find jobs for more laid-off workers.