Shanghai municipal government has vowed to improve its social
insurance system to provide better care for migrant workers.
The social insurance scheme, designed for Shanghai's migrant
population, especially its farmers-turned-workers, already covers
3.3 million people, or 80 percent of that segment of population,
according to the municipal government.
"However, we will take additional steps to improve the scheme,
particularly in areas such as pensions, on-the-job injuries and
health insurance, which are of great concern to migrant workers,"
Han Zheng said at a press conference late last month to mark his
re-appointment as mayor of Shanghai.
Most of the country's 140 million migrant workers do not receive
social benefits because they move around so often.
In 2002, Shanghai took a pioneering step by creating an
insurance system for its floating population under which employers
must contribute to pensions for migrant workers as well as cover
work-related injuries and health insurance.
However, several obstacles have prevented the scheme from
reaching all of those who need it.
"For various reasons, some migrant workers have not participated
in the program," Hong Gang, a migrant worker deputy to the city's
people's congress, said.
"Many businesses are reluctant to pay for insurance for their
migrant workers because in addition to their contributions, they
have to pay taxes on the money they give."
Still, city officials insist that the system should cover all
migrant workers.
"All people coming to work in Shanghai, including the millions
of migrant workers, are like members of our big family," the mayor
said.
"The central government will put universal measures in place
this year to safeguard the rights and interests of migrant workers,
and Shanghai, in line with the national trend, will improve its own
policies."
A soon-to-be-released document for local governments will help
140 million migrant people get access to better housing, medical
services and education for their children.
Governments will be held responsible for educating the children
of migrant workers in their adopted homes and build dorms for
migrant workers.
They should also encourage migrant workers to obtain insurance
coverage for work and basic medical care.
Migrant wokers will also have free services such as infectious
disease prevention and treatment, children's vaccinations and
maternity care.
(China Daily February 13, 2008)