In 2025, China will increase the scale of special investment in workfare programs, with central government investment for the year exceeding 35 billion yuan. Li Chao, spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), explained that to better promote employment and income growth among key groups, such as those who have been lifted out of poverty, the NDRC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, will significantly increase the scale of special “work-for-relief” investment in 2025. Central government investment for the year totaled 35.5 billion yuan, an increase of 24 billion yuan compared to 2024. More than 7,000 projects were implemented, and local authorities were simultaneously guided to promote the “cash-for-work” approach in key engineering projects across other sectors. Preliminary statistics indicate that this initiative helped more than 4 million low-income individuals find employment in their local communities. (CCTV News)