China's trade unions will play a more active role in protecting
the legal rights of migrant workers, who are more frequently
infringed than their counterparts with a permanent urban
residence.
"We aim to develop a further 6 million trade union members among
migrant workers to better protect their rights," Gu Changsheng,
director of the Information and Education Department of the
All-China Federation of Trade Unions, was quoted by China Daily as
saying.
Salaries of many migrant workers are delayed in payment and many
of the workers are not covered by social insurance, said the
newspaper.
"Trade unions will be able to support the migrant workers when
they meet difficulties," Gu said.
He also vowed to provide legal services to those migrant workers
when their rights are infringed.
Meanwhile, health and safety of migrant workers was also being
given priority by the federation.
Trade unions will strengthen supervision over labor, health and
safety this year, especially in highly dangerous industries and
industries that contain large numbers of migrant workers, Gu
said.
Over 5 million migrant workers are expected to receive safety
education this year.
Furthermore, the federation plans to promote the abolishment of
laws and policies that prejudice migrant workers, for example the
practice of charging them extra fees.
Statistics show that the 120 million farmers-turned-workers
account for over half of the whole manual and service industry
labor population in China. But only 13.8 percent of the migrant
workers were involved in trade unions.
As many private companies are unwilling to set up labor
movements, independent trade unions will be established to invite
more migrant worker members, according to Yang Honglin,
vice-director of the federation's department for grass-roots
construction.
A total of 5 million yuan (US$616,500) was invested to aid
migrant workers in difficulty during the forthcoming Spring
Festival holiday. Those who are unable to afford transportation
back home due to a lack of salary payments will be assisted.
(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2006)
