Chinese government Wednesday announced guidelines designed to boost the development of home services industry across the country, vowing financial support and tax cuts.

"The home services industry plays an important role in creating jobs. It also improves people's living standards and expands domestic demand, helping adjust China's economic structure," said a statement issued after an executive meeting of the State Council, China's Cabinet, presided over by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

The government will prioritize development of housekeeping services, community services, senior citizen care, and home care for the sick to meet the basic needs of families, the statement said.

Delivery of household necessities and home education may also be developed in line with local conditions to meet the special needs of households, the statement added.

The government encourages business people to invest in the home services industry to nurture a domestic home services market, it said.

The statement also said public employment service providers must improve their services and offer free career counseling for home service providers.

The government also promised to intensify supervision of home service companies to safeguard consumer rights.

It also promised to take measures to safeguard service providers' rights to reasonable salaries.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2010)