China's charity and social welfare sectors need about 200,000 care workers to look after orphans and disabled children, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

"According to the ministry's regulation, one care worker should be responsible for two children, so a total of 200,000 care workers are needed for the next few years," said a ministry official Jia Xiaojiu.

Currently, only about 8,000 care workers serve in the country's 224 orphanages, which, along with around 1,200 social welfare institutions, have adopted 66,000 orphans, abandoned babies and disabled children.

Ministry statistics show China has 573,000 orphans, most of whom have been adopted by local families.

The central government added "care workers for orphans and disabled children" to China's list of new professions this month, aiming to guide the development of occupational education and training.

Chinese medical colleges are starting to offer "care worker" majors to university and vocational school students.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2007)