The All-China Federation of Trade Unions recently gave away May Day Labor Awards to 2,891 collectives and individuals. In total, 397 collectives were awarded the National May Day Labor Certificate, 1,297 collectives received the National Workers Pioneer Title and 1,197 individuals the National May Day Labor Medal.

This year, the ACFTU expanded the scope of the awards to include grassroots and frontline staff, especially industrial workers, with 85.5 percent of the winners being grassroots or frontline workers.

Industrial workers are not only key to enterprises' development, but also a leading force of innovation-driven development and vital factor for implementing China's "manufacturing power" strategy. From the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope and Shenzhou space missions to high-speed trains and the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, China's science and technology sector has made remarkable achievements in recent years.

To transform from a "manufacturing country" into a "manufacturing power", and upgrade "made in China" to "created in China", it must cultivate a high-quality workforce by promoting the spirit of model workers, the spirit of labor and the spirit of craftsmanship.

In recent years, the scale of industrial workers in China has been growing and their overall quality has also greatly improved, but there is still a shortage of skilled personnel, as seen in the labor shortage in many regions in recent years. There are many reasons for this, including poor career development channel of frontline workers in the manufacturing sector and their low social status.

The building of a high-quality labor force is a long-term goal. Honoring industrial workers with the May Day Labor Awards sends a strong message that there are no superior or inferior jobs. It also inspires people to realize that happiness depends on hard work and labor.