A specific and comprehensive administrative regulation protecting migrant workers' rights was issued in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing on Wednesday.
The Administrative Regulation on Migrant Workers' Rights Protection and Services of Chongqing Municipality said all enterprises (state-owned or private), government offices, institutions and social organizations should provide training in professional skills and work safety for their migrant worker employees.
Workers in industries like mining, construction and production of dangerous chemicals, explosive, flammable or poisonous materials have to receive professional training on work safety and pass an exam before taking post. For some special positions, migrant workers should get an operating license first, and employers should pay for training fees.
Migrant workers will receive training on a voluntary basis and will get subsidies from the municipal government. The training is expected to benefit their personal development and help them adapt to urban life.
Employers should buy industrial injury insurance for migrant workers, and should compensate migrant workers for injury if they don't.
Migrant workers working on construction sites should have accident insurance paid by the employers.
For the schooling of migrant workers' children, local government should ensure their compulsory education. According to the regulation, education administrative departments should arrange local schools to enroll migrant workers' children without charging extra fees. For those from poor families, tuition costs should be reduced.
The regulation also emphasized that migrant workers' children should be respected and treated equally.
(China.org.cn translated by Li Shen, September 16, 2005)
