He and his fellow laborers were insured by the construction and decoration company he works at the end of the last Chinese lunar year. For the first time, he felt his life and benefits were secure.

The insurance he enjoys is part of Shanghai's social security program for migrant laborers, who are often paid low and entitled to no benefits from the social security programs offered by either their employers or their hometowns.

Shanghai launched the program three months ago. Supervised by the government and operated by commercial insurance companies, the program includes insurance for industrial injury, medical expenses in case of hospitalization and pensions.

All those business entities approved to employ migrant laborers and their migrant laborers are allowed to join the program. So far, nearly 10,000 firms have registered, involving 400,000 people.

The program asked the enterprises to contribute part of the insurance premiums for their migrant employees. Those migrant laborers working for migrant construction teams can enjoy two sections of the program, but not pensions.

So far, the program has been welcomed by both employees and employers.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2003)