Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), various regions in China have taken active actions to promote the re-employment of ex-servicemen, including providing online training and exclusive jobs.

"The epidemic outbreak has had quite a big impact on us," said Wu Tao, a retired soldier in Xiangyang, central China's Hubei province, adding that he worked in other provinces year round since his demobilization in 1993. However due to the outbreak, he was unable to resume work, resulting in a reduction in his family income.

"Later I noted the information about the 'online job fair' hosted by the Hubei Department of Veterans Affairs. Luckily, I've got a new job in my hometown, and I can start working when the epidemic situation improves. The job is close to my home, which enables me to take better care of my family," added Wu.

In addition to Hubei, other regions in China have also offered online recruitment services. Resources including online job interviews and contract signing have helped resolve practical issues ex-servicemen may encounter in the course of seeking a job.

At the same time, ex-servicemen are encouraged to take advantage of the window period before their re-employment to participate in education and training, improving their skills and competitiveness for employment.

South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region built a mechanism in close collaboration with the judicial, public security, emergency response, urban management and other departments, to promote the employment of ex-servicemen.

Meanwhile, east China's Shandong province has provided more than 80,000 jobs for veterans, thanks to its efforts to mobilize renowned enterprises such as Haier Group and Alibaba, as well as nearly 4,000 other companies.

East China's Anhui province not only transformed and integrated industrial parks and incubation bases to support ex-servicemen who pursue entrepreneurship, but has also given one-off subsidies to businesses established by ex-servicemen faced with temporary difficulties in operation, in order to avoid and reduce the number of layoffs.