Give migrant workers their rightful due
Updated: 2015-05-19 07:54
By Li Renqing(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
Jiajia and Tongtong (alias) play in the yard during the holidays. They both go to the boarding school and their parents are migrant workers striving for better life. [Photo by Huang Liang/Beijing Youth Daily and Asianewsphoto] |
Migrant workers have played and are still playing an important role in China's industrialization and urbanization, but they lack necessary social welfare in terms of employment and retirement benefits compared with urban workers.
True, the authorities have taken steps, including providing a monthly subsidy of 55 yuan ($8.9) each to senior citizens in rural areas, but the amount is too small to meet even the basic needs of these people.
With China's growing aging population, many people in rural areas are becoming old before becoming well off because they don't get basic pension and have no old-age security.
According to National Bureau of Statistics data, the number of migrant workers gradually increased from 2010 to 2014; it reached 273.95 million in 2014, with the number of migrant workers above 50 years being more than 46 million. Incidentally, the number of young migrant workers gradually declined between 2010 and 2014 while that of their older counterparts increased.
The percentage of migrant workers between 21 and 30 years dropped from 35 in 2010 to 30 in 2014 and that of migrant workers above 50 years increased from 12 to 17. This reflects the structural change in China's workforce because of the demographic change brought about by the family planning policy. Migrant workers above 30 years are making up for the lack of young working population and, to a certain extent, have stabilized the workforce. This could have reduced the negative impact on the economic transformation and sustainable development of China.
But older migrant workers have been deprived of fair social security welfare. The media and public have been trying to bring the poor living and working conditions of such migrant workers to the notice of the authorities. For example, the media highlighted the plight of 72-year-old Jin Chunbo who died of heatstroke while cleaning a street.
A majority of street cleaners are above 50, and yet they work as causal workers without the benefit of any labor contract. On Nov, 2014, the media reported that some middle-age workers in Lanzhou, Gansu province, were compelled to sign a document saying they would be responsible for any physical injury they sustained during work. This shows how important it is to provide occupational security to older workers.
- Global health entering new era: WHO chief
- Brazil's planning minister steps aside after recordings revelation
- Vietnam, US adopt joint statement on advancing comprehensive partnership
- European border closures 'inhumane': UN refugee agency
- Japan's foreign minister calls A-bombings extremely regrettable
- Fukushima impact unprecedented for oceans: US expert
- Stars of Lijiang River: Elderly brothers with white beards
- Wealthy Chinese children paying money to learn British manners
- Military-style wedding: Fighter jets, grooms in dashing uniforms
- Striking photos around the world: May 16 - May 22
- Robots help elderly in nursing home in east China
- Hanging in the air: Chongqing holds rescue drill
- 2.1-ton tofu finishes in two hours in central China
- Six things you may not know about Grain Buds
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |