Small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in Hubei province — the center of the coronavirus outbreak in China — may be eligible for one-time payments of at least 1,000 yuan ($140) per new college graduate they hire, according to a senior official.

Liu Hong, deputy head of the provincial human resources and social security bureau, announced the plan during a press conference Monday.

Over the past few months, authorities in Hubei have introduced various measures aimed at reviving businesses hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, college graduates willing to start local businesses can receive stipends of 5,000 yuan. (Image: People Visual)