One in four migrant workers in Shanghai, China's economic powerhouse, has joined a trade union.

A total of 1.01 million out of over 4 million migrant workers are now union members, according to a Shanghai trade union forum on Wednesday.

"Migrant workers are often on the move and not good at safeguarding their own rights and interests, they need more protection from trade unions," said Chen Hao, chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Trade Unions.

In Shanghai Corp. of Shipbuilding Industry, the trade union helped more than 9,000 migrant workers sign contracts with the company, supervised and urged the company to pay salaries in time and assisted workers in dealing with job disputes.

"We saw a film the day we joined the trade union, I feel very glad that the union cares about us. Now I can turn to it for help if we are in trouble," said construction worker Peng Deyin from Chongqing, southwest China.

Every year millions of migrant workers flock from villages to cities in search of jobs.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2005)