More than half of female migrant workers work without contracts or social welfare guarantees, according to a recent survey.

The All-China Women's Federation survey found that only about 40 per cent of female migrant workers have signed contracts with their employers.

The survey also found that only 23.8 per cent surveyed have medical insurance, 19.1 per cent work injury insurance, 8.1 per cent unemployment insurance and just 6.7 per cent maternity insurance.

Only 36.4 per cent of female migrant workers are permitted to take maternity leave, and 64.5 per cent receive no pay during this period.

The survey was carried out between July and August this year, with 6,596 questionnaires in 416 villages in eight provinces, as well as 53 migrant worker residences in four major cities including Beijing and Shanghai.

Most female migrant workers are engaged in labour intensive jobs, which often means low pay and poor working conditions.

The survey said the average monthly salary was 859 yuan (US$107), 20 per cent lower than male migrant workers, who earned on average 1,033 yuan (US$129).

Vague stipulations in the country's Labour Law, low cost for employers if they violate rights, and the competitive job market are causing the problems, said Li Ying, director of Peking University Women's Law Studies & Legal Aid Centre, a non-governmental organization based in Beijing.

The survey also showed rural women wanted women's federations to help in better safeguarding their rights, and to offer advice on improving living standards and poverty alleviation.

Mo Wenxiu, vice-chairwoman of the federation and vice-director of the survey group, said there were positives from the survey: "We found rural women's legal awareness had increased, as 81.1 per cent of respondents knew about the Law on Women's Rights Protection."

Some 77 per cent rural women and 68.7 per cent of female migrant workers said they knew of or had accepted legal aid or judicial assistance.

Despite the improvement in legal awareness, China's rural women worry most about their child's education

The survey showed 35.8 per cent of respondents worried about education, 34.5 per cent about making a living and 14 per cent about health.