1,224 to get Labor Medal

The top trade union organization has decided to award a top labor honor to more than 1,200 workers nationwide this year.

The National May 1 Labor Medal will be awarded to 1,224 individuals before May Day, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions said on April 23.

Among those individuals, 64.3 percent are grassroots workers and technicians, 19 percent are teachers and scientific researchers, 9.3 percent are government and public institution employees, and 7.4 percent were corporate managerial staff.

Among them, 25 percent are female workers, and 126 are migrant workers.

The youngest winner is a 23-year-old welder at an oil company.

The National May 1 Labor Certificate, an equivalent award for working groups, will be granted to 312 teams this year.

The federation started awarding the medals and certificates in 1985, and the awards are given every year.

The awards are granted to individuals and teams who have made remarkable contributions to economic development, disaster relief and other fields.

As of 2012, more than 26,000 individuals and some 8,000 groups had been awarded the titles.