Skilled workforce

Feng Xiliang, a labor expert at Beijing-based Capital University of Economics and Business, said all those honors were designed to show respect and commendation of labor and hard work.

Those honors should encourage the development of the country's skilled workforce that is currently insufficient and in great demand.

"Actually we have seen such trends by analyzing the structure of the medalists," he said.

"Workers who are bestowed those honors should get more material rewards," Feng said.

Compared with the material rewards that are granted to scientific talent and intellectuals, benefits given to model workers are small, he said.

"We could use more incentives and rewards to improve the social status of common laborers to create an environment that respects and commends labor and skilled workers in order to encourage more young people to join the skilled workforce," said Feng.

Honors for women

Chen Yan holds the picture of her mother Yu Sumei, a pedicurist from Xi'an who was named a national model worker in the 1970s. Photo Provided to China Daily

The title of National March 8 Red-Banner Pacesetter is awarded to women who have made outstanding contributions to China's development, and it represents the highest honor awarded to women.

The All-China Women's Federation started to grant the honor in 1960, and more than 35,000 women have been given the title.

The federation awarded the title to 310 individuals this year, including Zhang Lili, a middle school teacher in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang province, who lost both of her legs after risking her life to push away students when a bus went out of control and was heading toward the students in May last year.

Other women were of various careers, including doctors, reporters, farmers and entrepreneurs.

The title does not render higher pay or other welfare to owners, but many local governments have given material benefits to title owners within their jurisdictions.

Someone given a title in Hangzhou can enjoy equivalent benefits such as a monthly allowance of 80 to 150 yuan, medical subsidies and priority in buying affordable housing.

In Hai'an county, Jiangsu province, women who are given the title can receive a subsidy of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan a year, according to media reports.

China Youth Award, issued by the Communist Youth League Central Committee and All-China Youth Federation, represents the highest honor awarded to China's young people who have had remarkable performances and contributions in work.

The two organizations started to award the title in 1997. The award goes to people between 14 and 40.

Award winners include star hurdler Liu Xiang.

Zhang Jun, deputy director of the National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases at Xiamen University in Fujian province, won the title in 2010.

Zhang said the honor does not come with any material benefit, and he did not get any wage increase or promotion because of the title.

"It's more like a commendation of my academic study and research. But I think it will help when I plan to apply for scientific research projects," said 40-year-old Zhang.

He Dan contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at chenxin1@chinadaily.com.cn and wangxiaodong@chinadaily.com.cn.