China launched a campaign Thursday to improve the lives of the country's 242 million migrant workers and ensure their rights and interests.

The campaign aims to "create an atmosphere of understanding, respecting and caring for migrant workers" and to improve public services for them,according to an official document jointly issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Agriculture, among other departments.

The document requests government departments to provide various kinds of voluntary services to migrant workers.

Migrant workers in Chinese cities are usually poorly educated and face various difficulties including low pay, inadequate social security, discrimination and lack of schools for their children.

The document called for improvements in vocational training and consultation, legal and cultural services, psychological counseling and children's education for migrant workers and their families.

It said funds for the campaign would be raised through the China Volunteer Service Foundation.