Farmers face a long road into cities
By Chen Xiwen (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-10-25 09:55
More than 20 years of migrant workers' persistence gets paid by the State's
commitment to solve the issues that closely concern their lives now that society
realizes the relationship between migrant workers and the country's
modernization.
But the title of "farmers-turned-workers" still exists, which shows that
these labourers' status has not been changed though they are able to work in
cities. It also demonstrates the difficulties of China's urbanization.
Farmers were not able to transfer into cities in the very early years due to
the country's insufficient supply of goods and materials. When the basic supply
was uncertain, public enterprises were unable to provide enough employment
opportunities for migrant labourers.
With the growth of the non-public sector in our socialist market economy,
there has been a great increase of jobs in cities and towns. But the reform of
the social welfare system has made social security and housing the two biggest
obstacles for farmers-turned-workers to merge in the urban society.
From "blind migrants" to "farmers -turned-workers" and further to city
dwellers, it is really a long and rocky road for Chinese farmers to transform
into urban residents.
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