Migrant workers who were previously farmers will get the same
labor rights as their counterparts from towns and cities starting
next year, under a new regulation by the Ministry of Labor and
Social Security (MLSS).
"No discriminatory restrictions should be set against the rural
laborers entering cities for employment," the Employment Services
and Employment Management Regulation issued on Wednesday
stated.
Under the regulation, all laborers cannot be discriminated
because of ethnicity, race, gender, and religious belief when
seeking employment.
Farmers-turned-laborers or those without local household
registration can also register for unemployment at local public
labor service agencies if they have worked in a place for half a
year and more.
Employment units should go to local public service agencies to
register laborers or terminate their contracts.
"The provisions reflect tremendous progress in the country's
labor policies," Mo Rong, the vice-president of the labor science
research institute under the MLSS, told China Daily.
Mo said policies toward laborers from rural areas have been
changing with the times - in the early 1980s, they were forbidden
to migrate to cities, but this restriction was later lifted with
the provision that the laborers brought their own "grain tickets"
in the face of a grain shortage.
Since the 90s, the laborers have moved freely between rural and
urban areas under the regulations of respective cities. The first
great wave of migrants heading to cities occurred in 1992.
"They could finally 'float' between rural regions and cities
without policy limitations after 2000," Mo said, referring to the
country's policy improvements in the area.
"Laborers from rural areas will now be able to enjoy many free
employment services in the cities with the new regulations," Mo
added.
"These are possible under the auspices of a good amount of
government subsidies."
With the new regulation, employers are now forbidden to refuse
women work except when such jobs are stated as unsuitable as
stipulated by the State.
"When an employing unit recruits female workers, it shall not
stipulate in the labor contract any content which restricts female
workers from getting married or having child," said the
ministry.
Those suffering from infectious diseases are now also protected
from discrimination.
In particular, laborers cannot be denied work based on
Hepatitis-B tests unless the job already prohibits carriers of the
disease according to laws, administrative rules and regulations set
by the administrative department of health under the State
Council.
Such employment units can be fined as much as 1,000 yuan
(US$135) along with other compensation liabilities.
(China Daily November 9, 2007)