URUMQI, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has increased social security subsidies and introduced a spate of supportive policies to bolster employment.

The region will continue to implement various employment support policies to poverty-stricken households in southern Xinjiang, coordinate and solve their problems in a timely manner and stabilize employment to the greatest extent, according to the regional human resources and social security department Friday.

Those affected by the epidemic in Xinjiang will be provided with employment assistance, and unemployment insurance will be paid on time, it said.

For small and medium-sized enterprises and employees facing temporary production and operation difficulties, Xinjiang will give priority to the implementation of social insurance subsidies, vocational training subsidies and other supporting policies.

Start-up guaranteed loans and discount interest support will be given to individuals and small and micro enterprises that have temporarily lost their sources of income due to the virus outbreak, as well as to small and micro companies and entrepreneurs that engage in the production of materials for epidemic prevention and control.

To reduce the pressure on local companies and stabilize employment, Xinjiang has lowered or waived employers' contributions to the old-age pension, unemployment and workplace safety insurance schemes to help them tide over the rough period.