BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese ethnic affairs official on Wednesday rejected claims in some Western media about so-called "forced labor" or "forced relocation" of ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang, saying the rights of cross-regional employees and entrepreneurs are protected by China's law.

File photo: IC

Chen Ruifeng, head of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media query about such claims, adding that they are utterly absurd and laughable.

He said China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, which will come into effect on July 1, protects the legitimate rights and interests of people seeking employment or starting businesses across regions.

All people in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region who seek employment outside the region do so out of their own free will, driven by a desire to improve the life of their family and enhance their skills, and that they register on a voluntary basis, Chen noted.

Xinjiang has pursued an employment-first strategy and made every effort to promote high-quality, full employment, he said.

Over the past five years, Xinjiang has created a cumulative total of 2.392 million new urban jobs, recorded 16.1 million outbound work trips by agricultural laborers, and seen per capita disposable income grow at an average annual rate of 5.3 percent for urban residents and 8.1 percent for rural residents, according to Chen.

By strengthening a fair employment policy system and improving mechanisms for protecting labor rights, Xinjiang has not only safeguarded the lawful rights and interests of workers but also ensured that everyone capable of working has access to employment, he added.