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)