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Help rural workers

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-26 07:46

Helping migrant workers get a job is a tough task in these times of economic downturn. But no matter how hard the task may be, the government cannot afford to let millions of rural laborers sit idle.

The National Bureau of Statistics' latest survey shows about 11 million migrant workers are yet to get a job in cities and towns, and another 12 million are at home trying either to start a business or till their land.

The survey covered 68,000 rural households in 857 counties of 31 provinces and autonomous regions during Spring Festival, and showed the country had more than 225 million migrant workers. The well being of such a large section of society is important for the country's economic development and social progress.

The survey's findings, however, don't present an optimistic picture on that front. For example, they show migrant workers are still disadvantaged when it comes to education. A whopping 80 percent of the 70 million workers who returned home during Spring Festival had only middle school or lower level educations. That could explain why they have borne the brunt of the economic slowdown. And that's why it's important that they get professional training to acquire special skills or knowledge so that they can secure relatively stable jobs.

Another big problem plaguing them is non-payment of their wages by some unscrupulous employers despite the measures taken by governments at various levels to ensure their arrears are cleared. The number of such workers is more than 3 million, some of who have even been laid off, throwing their future into total uncertainly. So the battle to protect migrant workers' rights and get them stable jobs is a tough one.

It's well known that the money migrant workers sent back home is an important source of income for rural families, and the loss of jobs has deprived many of them of livelihood.

New jobs are not likely to be created in the labor-intensive exports sector because of a drop in demand in overseas markets. It is unrealistic, too, to expect the construction sector to absorb more migrant workers. So how do we ensure a better future for them?

The government is tapping the potential of the rural market through various stimulus policies to promote domestic consumption. It would be meaningful if these policies address the problems migrant workers are facing now. And it's here that the service sector can play a pivotal role. If the government takes steps to boost the sector, it can create new jobs that will absorb more and more migrant workers.

Moreover, the government has another job at hand: expanding the social security net for them. Migrant workers will be audacious enough to spend more, and raise domestic consumption only when they are assured of a more dependable social security system for it is the only thing that could stop them from worrying about losing their jobs or retiring prematurely.

(China Daily 03/26/2009 page8)