Doing a good job in social work in the new era is of great significance for practicing the fundamental purpose of the Party, consolidating the grassroots foundation of national governance, further stimulating and enhancing social vitality, and better serving and benefiting the people.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has made a series of major decisions and deployments from the strategic perspective of the overall development of the Party and the country, vigorously promoted innovation in social work practice, theory, and system, and achieved important achievements in social work. The advantages and effectiveness of socialist social governance with Chinese characteristics have become increasingly prominent, creating a new situation of "governance of China".
Draw a blueprint, anchor the course, and ensure the stable and far-reaching development of social work in the new era
"Chinese path to modernization should and can achieve a dynamic balance that is dynamic but not chaotic, active and orderly."
Dealing with the relationship between vitality and order and ensuring that the society is both dynamic and orderly is the essence of Chinese path to modernization. Social work bears an important mission.
Looking at the governance practices of various countries, if social governance cannot keep up with the pace of economic development and various social contradictions and problems cannot be effectively resolved, not only will economic development be difficult to sustain, but the entire society may also fall into turmoil
General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech is weighty and profound, containing profound thoughts and far sighted considerations on social work, and profoundly elaborating on the importance and urgency of strengthening social work in the new era.
We must use the leadership of the Party to oversee the overall situation, expand the Party's appeal and cohesion in emerging fields, vigorously promote Party building to lead grassroots governance, smooth and regulate channels for expressing public demands, coordinating interests, and safeguarding rights and interests, and firmly follow the path of socialist social governance with Chinese characteristics
General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of important statements on why and how to strengthen social work, proposing a series of new ideas, viewpoints, and judgments, which have pointed out the direction and provided guidance for doing a good job in social work in the new era.
The Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has comprehensively strengthened its leadership over social work through systematic planning and top-level design. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China made strategic arrangements for improving the social governance system. The Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to establish the Central Social Work Department as a functional department of the Party Central Committee, and provincial, municipal, and county-level party committees will establish social work departments. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed important reform measures such as improving the social work system and mechanism, and clarified the key tasks of social work in the new era.
The social work policy system is constantly improving. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has approved the issuance of opinions on strengthening the modernization of grassroots governance system and governance capacity, enhancing the construction of community worker teams, improving the new era volunteer service system, and promoting the legalization of petition work. Relevant normative documents have also been formulated and issued by various regions and departments, providing strong institutional guarantees for doing a good job in social work in the new era.
The social work system and mechanism continue to be improved. In December 2023, the Central Party Building Work Leading Group held a meeting to establish a coordination mechanism for Party building leading grassroots governance, strengthen cross departmental work coordination, and study and solve new situations and problems faced by Party building leading grassroots governance. At the central level, mechanisms such as grassroots organization construction and joint meetings on petition work have also been improved, effectively strengthening the Party's overall coordination of relevant social work.
Guided by Party building and with a new "heart" towards the Party, we help promote high-quality economic and social development
On the eve of the 2019 Spring Festival, General Secretary Xi Jinping walked into a courier service point in Shitou Hutong, Qianmen, Beijing to visit the "courier guy" who was still working. The General Secretary said emotionally that the work of the "express delivery guy" is very hard, starting early and working late, rain or shine, and getting busier on holidays. Like hardworking bees, they are the hardest workers and bring convenience to everyone's lives.
Since the reform and opening up, with the continuous development of the socialist market economy, a large number of new economic organizations and new social organizations have emerged. In recent years, the platform economy has flourished, gathering a large number of new employment groups such as couriers, ride hailing delivery personnel, ride hailing drivers, and truck drivers. These organizations and groups play an important role in the economy and society.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, various regions have actively explored effective ways to strengthen party building work in emerging fields. A work system has been widely established with unified leadership from party committees, coordinated guidance from "two new" working committees, specific guidance from industry management departments, and direct responsibility from industry party organizations. The coverage of party organizations and work has been continuously expanded, and the most active organizations and groups in economic and social development have been united and gathered around the party, promoting the healthy development of these organizations and guiding these groups to firmly follow the party.
Leading the development direction of non-public enterprises——
In 2012, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee issued opinions on strengthening and improving the party building work in non-public enterprises. In the same year, the National Conference on Party Building in Non Public Enterprises was held in Beijing, which put forward requirements such as strengthening the "two coverage", giving full play to the "two roles" of party organizations, and strengthening the construction of "two teams". It clarified the functional positioning of party organizations in non-public enterprises and the institutional mechanisms and basic guarantees for party building work in non-public enterprises, marking a new stage of comprehensive improvement in this work.
The solid implementation of party building work is also a productive force. From key enterprises, key regions, and key industries, to buildings, commercial districts, and industrial parks, we will continue to expand the tangible and effective coverage of the Party's organization and work, and deepen the Party building work in non-public enterprises. Strengthen the political guidance of party organizations and promote qualified party members, investors, executives, etc. to serve as party secretaries of enterprise organizations. By closely linking the activities of party organizations with the production and operation of enterprises, implementing practices such as party member demonstration posts and party member responsibility areas, and encouraging party members to take the lead and overcome difficulties on the front line of production and projects, we have played a pioneering and exemplary role, resulting in a number of advanced models with strong party building and development.
Promote the deepening reform and transformational development of industry associations and chambers of commerce——
Since the reform of decoupling industry associations and chambers of commerce from administrative agencies was launched in June 2015, more than 70000 industry associations and chambers of commerce across the country have completed decoupling, and have initially established a modern social organizational system that separates politics and society, clarifies rights and responsibilities, and operates in accordance with the law.
In December 2023, the inter ministerial joint conference on reform and development of industry associations and chambers of commerce will be adjusted and established to strengthen the overall coordination of the reform and development work of industry associations and chambers of commerce. Relevant departments strengthen management services based on their responsibilities and work together to promote the healthy development of industry associations and chambers of commerce. The party building work of industry associations and chambers of commerce has been continuously strengthened, and the comprehensive strict governance of the party has been deeply promoted. The internal management has been continuously standardized, and it has contributed its own strength in serving the country, society, the masses, and the industry.
The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Mechanical and Electrical Products has more than 15000 member units and is an important bridge and platform for China's import and export of mechanical and electrical products and foreign cooperation. In May 2024, it hosted the sixth meeting of the Sino French Entrepreneurs Committee. The Party branch of the China Industrial Textile Industry Association is an advanced grassroots Party organization in the country, playing a role as a fighting fortress, supporting the development of the industry, and promoting the widespread application of high-tech textiles in safety protection, ecological restoration, national defense security and other fields... According to relevant departments, since 2023, industry associations and chambers of commerce at all levels have put forward nearly 65000 policy suggestions and facilitated about 33000 investment projects to relevant government departments.
Strengthen political guidance and cohesion services for new business formats and employment groups——
According to survey data from relevant departments, the number of new employment groups in China has reached 84 million.
In 2023, 10 departments jointly issued policy documents to make institutional arrangements for strengthening the party building work of new business formats and new employment groups. The management departments of all industries give play to their functional advantages, promote the establishment of party committees in the express industry, online distribution industry, and Internet industry, strengthen the awareness of managing party building in the industry, and form a joint force in party building.
Community canteens, basketball courts, battery swapping stations, government service stations... Walking into the Party and Mass Service Center of the Universal Gravity New Business and New Employment Group in Putuo District, Shanghai, the nearly 4000 square meter space gathers more than 20 functional carriers such as medicine, food, residence, and transportation, becoming the "warm home" in the hearts of the new employment group in Putuo District.
In recent years, various regions have taken multiple measures based on actual conditions, relying on party and mass service centers, township (street) social work stations, "Warm New" stations, driver's homes, etc., to provide caring services for new employment groups. Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong and other places are coordinating the construction of "friendly communities" and "friendly business districts" for new employment groups, focusing on solving practical problems such as difficulty for riders to enter, recharge, rest, and dine, guiding them to participate in volunteer services such as civilized propaganda and caring for disadvantaged groups, and playing an active role in grassroots governance.
Consolidate the foundation, serve the people, and continuously transform institutional advantages into governance effectiveness
Tongcheng, Anhui, is a six foot alley that witnessed a beautiful story from over 300 years ago about you being humble and me giving in, and valuing peace. Tongcheng City has integrated traditional culture into grassroots governance, forming the "New Era Six Foot Lane Work Method" and embarking on a path of grassroots governance that includes source governance, diverse governance, and harmonious sharing.
In October 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Liuchi Lane during his inspection tour in Anhui. General Secretary pointed out that Liuchi Lane embodies the historical wisdom of our ancestors in resolving conflicts. It should be used as an educational venue to promote excellent traditional Chinese culture, give full play to the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation's emphasis on courtesy and harmony, and create a harmonious social environment for living and working in peace and contentment.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, various regions have firmly established a clear orientation of focusing on grassroots work, promoting people to go to the grassroots level, money to invest at the grassroots level, and policies to tilt towards the grassroots level. Efforts have been made to strengthen the leadership of party building in grassroots governance and the construction of grassroots political power. In recent years, the experience and practices of "blowing the whistle in streets and townships, reporting to departments" and "handling complaints as soon as they are received" that Beijing has explored have been widely promoted nationwide.
Since 2023, relevant departments have introduced a series of specific measures to address the prominent issue of "small horses pulling big carts" in grassroots governance. These measures include "light carts, strong horses, smooth roads, and collective efforts", which not only focus on empowering the grassroots but also promote the reduction of their burden, achieving significant progress.
Some village officials have expressed that the number of village signs has decreased, and there are fewer requirements for village certificates and tasks assigned to the village. There are also fewer WeChat work groups on village officials' mobile phones, and grassroots officials have more time and energy to serve the people.
Social work faces the masses extensively, has close connections with the masses, and directly serves the masses.
Various regions adhere to and develop the "Fengqiao Experience" of the new era, make good use of the "four grassroots" system, deepen the reform of the petition system, conscientiously implement the "Regulations on Petition Work", promote the rule of law in petition work, strengthen the governance of petition problems at the source, carry out in-depth visits by leading cadres, and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the masses.
Listen to public opinion, gather people's wisdom, and widely solicit people's suggestions. From the five-year plan for national economic and social development, to important tasks related to national economy and people's livelihood such as education, healthcare, and elderly care, and matters that directly affect the interests of the masses, the masses can reflect through government portal websites, leadership message boards, 12345 government service convenience hotlines, and other platforms, allowing golden ideas to "come from the masses" and good policies to "go to the masses".
Volunteer service is an important symbol of social civilization and progress.
As of October 2024, there are a total of 237 million registered volunteers and 1.35 million volunteer service teams nationwide. From busy cities to remote villages, from national service ceremonies to wildlife conservation on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, from rural revitalization to disaster relief, volunteers are active everywhere. "Being a volunteer when you have time, finding a volunteer when you have difficulty" and "I dedicate myself, I am happy" have become new social trends.
Social work is receiving increasing attention, and more and more people are actively engaged in the glorious cause of serving the grassroots and the masses. In 2024, the number of applicants for the national social worker vocational qualification examination reached 1.889 million, setting a new historical high. Social work professionals are widely distributed in fields such as child welfare, elderly care services, social assistance, and community correction. They provide professional services and become an important force in meeting the personalized and diverse needs of the masses and solving specific livelihood problems.
When the wind is good, set sail and set sail again. On the new journey, facing new situations and tasks, social work must bravely shoulder new missions and demonstrate new achievements. Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, social work in the new era will surely make new and greater contributions to comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation with Chinese style modernization.