BEIJING - Migrant workers living in China's cities will enjoy the same public services as those provided to city dwellers by the end of 2020, a senior civil affairs official said Tuesday.

"The ideal living condition for migrant workers should be that they have decent jobs in cities and live a life of dignity after becoming urban residents," said Civil Affairs Minister Li Liguo.

Migrant workers have contributed significantly to China's economic and social development as well as urban development and prosperity. However, "Urban community-based public services haven't covered the entire group of migrant workers whose political, economic and cultural rights have yet to be guaranteed effectively," Li said. "They haven't received respect and understanding they deserve."

In January, the ministry worked out a guideline to give the nation's migrant workers greater access to urban community-based public services and help them better adapt to life in the city.

The guideline urges efforts to extend public services offered in urban communities, including employment, public health, social insurance, legal aid and educational services, to cover migrant workers living in urban areas.

It also urges efforts to find ways for migrant workers to take part in the selection of members of community management committees.

More initiatives have been introduced to help migrant workers get along with urbanites and adapt to city life.

Nationwide pilot projects have been launched to explore potential approaches that enable migrant workers to adapt to cites, Li said, adding that the desired results have been initially achieved.

Official statistics show that there are 164 million migrant workers nationwide.