New standards for domestic service agencies
A research institute on the domestic service industry is unveiled during the forum.
New evaluation standards for rating domestic service agencies in the Yangtze River Delta region were released in Shanghai on Wednesday to promote the industry and regulate the market.
The new scheme rates domestic service agencies in five levels based on criteria such as management, operation, service and social responsibility.
Detailed indexes cover areas such as staff certification, safety management, satisfaction ratings, development strategy and brand construction.
The standards were released by the Shanghai Home Service Industry Association and counterparts in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces and goes into effect from Wednesday.
"The domestic service industry is in rapid development, but it is confronted with a number of challenges such as supply shortages, irregularities and public dissatisfaction," said Zhang Lili, director of the association.
"The standard aims to promote the long-term healthy development of the industry in the region and lift satisfaction rates in the industry," she said.
An integrated development association for domestic services in the Yangtze River Delta region has also been established.
The standards were issued during the first International Forum on the Development and Investment of China's Domestic Service Industry, held in Huangpu District. The meeting was the first of its kind in China focusing on the industry.
It gathered more than 500 officials, scholars, experts and industry insiders from home and abroad.
A research institute on the domestic service industry was unveiled during the forum as well.
