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Although China has been dedicating to working for the legal
rights of rural migrants seeking jobs in cities, implementation of
these policies remain unsatisfactory and the country is in urgent
need to enact a law to protect their legitimate rights -- this is a
view shared by deputies to the top legislature Tuesday.
Rural farm workers, also named "migrant rural workers", have
created enormous wealth for the society and their status of
"industrial workers" should be recognized, said Ren Zhenglong,
member of NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
Liu Huailian, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC)
at the ongoing annual session from central China's agricultural
Henan province, called for national policies formulated to
guarantee that those migrant workers enjoy the same treatment in
terms of social security, insurance, payment and vacationing, and
their children enjoy on the equal footing with their urbanite peers
to attend schools.
Jiang Deming, a deputy from eastern Jiangsu province, said China
should enact a law in defense of the rights of migrant workers
promptly so as to better protect the disadvantaged group and
maintain social stability.
Migrant worker-turned NPC deputy Wang Yuancheng, who proposed
institutionalizing the protection of rural laborers' rights at the
2003 NPC session, planned to resubmit his motion to the ongoing
session.
Premier Wen Jiabao vowed to solve the problems of defaulted
construction costs and wage arrears for migrant workers in the
construction industry within a span of three years in his
government work report at the opening of the Second Session of the
Tenth NPC last Friday.
Wen, who helped a countrywoman to get back her husband's
defaulted salary of 2,000 yuan (about US$240) late last year, urged
substantial measures taken to ensure that rural workers in cities
be paid on time and in full. He also called for closer attention to
tackle their wages issue.
All unreasonable limitations imposed upon rural farm workers in
urban areas be lifted, and basic social insurance provided for
them, according to deputies, who echoed Chinese leaders' resolve to
help the migrant rural workers. Relevant proposals also add to the
law with such expressions as those in "supporting and encouraging
rural migrant workers to sell and transfer land-using rights on a
voluntary basis."
Governor Huang Huahua from south China's Guangdong province, a
major economic powerhouse, noted that legislative and other means
have been taken by his province to protect the lawful rights of
rural farm workers and to have their salaries paid timely and in
full.
At present, there are approximately 30 million rural farmers in
Guangdong, with one third of them migrated from other provinces or
autonomous regions. "They have contributed tremendously to
Guangdong's economic growth and this is crucial to local economic
prosperity and social stability and their lawful rights from
infringement should be protected well," said Huang.
The governor vowed a strict and meticulous inspection of
industries and businesses which hire a big rural workforce in a bid
to ensure that rural laborers are paid fairly. And he also warned
of a severe penalty on payoff defaults.
(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2004)
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