Farmers face a long road into cities
By Chen Xiwen (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-10-25 09:55 The State Council held a
national workshop earlier this month on the issue of farmers-turned-urban
workers. This was the first conference of its kind in the country.
Conference participants stressed that 10 practical issues of greatest concern
for migrant workers should be solved with strenuous efforts. These include the
default of their payments, the minimum wage level, labour contracts, work safety
and hygienic conditions, protection of their rights and interests, employment
guidance, skill and safety training, insurance, their children's rights to
receive compulsory education in cities, family planning and health services.
It is believed that protection of migrant workers' rights and interests and
their employment conditions will be improved when the above-mentioned work gets
enhanced.
The issues concerning migrant workers are special social phenomena during
China's modernization and urbanization process.
In the years of planned economy, farmers-turned city residents would be seen
to by the government in terms of employment, housing, social security and their
children's schooling.
But only a very few farmers got such opportunities. Farmers, as a whole, were
tied to the land.
After the country adopted the reform and opening-up policy, farmers' right to
choose a job expanded. They were able to work freely in rural industries or do
jobs in cities and towns.
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