The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opened its 15th national congress in Beijing on October 17th with a record number of 47 representatives of rural migrant workers.

Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the meeting along with more than1,600 union representatives from across the country.

The 47 representatives of migrant workers work in manufacturing, construction, environmental services and sanitation, as well as more traditional migrant strongholds such as the catering industry.

As more and more people flood into the cities from the countryside in search of work, how to defend their interests has become a hot topic in China. Trade unions are growing in strength; they now have 209 million members, including 66 million migrant workers. This year's congress is working on new policies to ensure migrant workers have good jobs, decent incomes, medical care and social insurance.

Wang Zhaoguo, chairman of the ACFTU, urged the delegates to give priority to protecting the rights and interests of migrant workers, but also said that unions should provide access to job training to help migrants move to more skilled and highly paid jobs.

"I have had health insurance since I signed a contract with a state-owned car company. I have also been on several training courses and leisure activities organized by the trade union," said Mr. Wang, a migrant worker from China's central Hubei Province, who has been working as a technician for four years, and was attending the conference as a delegate.

"But what I would really like is for the union to help us with housing – it's really difficult for us to buy an apartment in the city," Mr. Yang told China.org.cn. He also said he wanted action on the long-standing issue of education for the children of migrant workers.

(China.org.cn by Yang Xi, October 17, 2008)