Laborer throws spanner in works
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-10 06:50

During the ongoing NPC/CPPCC sessions, a large part of a reporter's time is spent on the road, moving from one hotel to another, where many press conferences are held simultaneously.

There's no shortage of information, but one ultimate reward for any reporter is to catch that special quote.

My trip to the press center last week was well worth it, thanks to one person.

Wang Hongjun, a car factory worker and newly-elected NPC deputy, raised quite a few eyebrows by giving unorthodox answers to routine questions.

Question: "How do you feel about becoming a deputy of the NPC?"

Answer: "A survey was conducted in Shanghai where interviewees were asked if they wanted to be a factory worker. One percent of all people canvassed said YES," Wang said, slightly raising his voice. "But I can tell you, only a tiny fraction of that 1 percent is actually telling the truth."

Rather than talking at great length about the symbolic meaning of his election and the appreciation he felt, Wang took the opportunity to highlight the awkward situation that most of his fellow workers still find themselves in.

By doing so, he distinguished himself from the other nine "grassroots" NPC deputies sitting in the same conference room, including three migrant workers toward whom most of the questions were directed.

Wang, who first came into the spotlight after winning the much-coveted National Science and Technology Award last year, seemed to know exactly who he was - a factory worker-deputy instead of a factory worker-turned-NPC deputy.

The truth is that while 10 people were elected as representatives for a vast group of people, which basically includes all the country's manual laborers, their personal experiences are far from representative.

Against this backdrop, it's crucial for all the deputies to remember where they have come from.

In fact, the very reason they were elected was because the decision-makers wanted to hear voices they did not have ample time to hear.

So, they should make their voices loud, distinct, and above all, authentic.

It is widely expected that these people, who know first-hand how much it takes for someone like a migrant worker to enjoy success, are more than capable of speaking their minds.

They must be able to share the worries, expectations or even demands of migrant workers who have contributed so much to the country's development, but have not been rewarded enough.

While their personal stories will provide inspiration for many more, it is their responsibility as NPC deputies to make it easier for fellow workers and laborers to get where they are standing right now.

By this, I don't mean the Great Hall of the People, but all the benefits and social welfare that they are desperately in need of, including medical and work injury insurance, old-age pension and free education for children.

Wang told a story to the press. "Both my brother and sister had gone to university. Before, when we had family gatherings, I felt that I had nothing to say and would remain silent for most of the time," he said.

"But things have changed now. I am more inclined to talk. And they ask me to talk more often.

"It has everything to do with a new-found respect. I hope that all of my fellow workers feel the same respect that I feel as an NPC deputy."

(China Daily 03/10/2008 page6)