It is vitally important to use the law to protect migrant
workers' rights and interests, says a signed article in Dazhong
Daily. An excerpt follows:
The Labor and Social Security Bureau of Henan Province is soliciting public opinion on
its newly drafted regulation on the protection of the rights and
interests of migrant workers. It is said to be China's first
regional legislation in this field.
The draft regulation contains rules on labor contracts, wage
payments, social insurance and labor use. It also clearly defines
the rights of migrant workers and the obligations of employers.
Judging from its contents, the regulation is quite rigorous.
The significance of this regulation goes far beyond the legal
protection it can provide to migrant workers. The significance lies
in its recognition of migrant laborers' status in cities. It
acknowledges the various rights of migrant workers in a legal form
and will help these drifting migrant workers gain equality with
their urban counterparts.
Migrant workers are a rather huge group in China. This group
faces common problems such as high mobility, high risks, low
incomes and difficulties in protecting their rights. Society should
address the practical issue of protecting the rights of this
disadvantaged group.
The state has issued laws and regulations recognizing and
protecting migrant workers' rights and interests. But without
specific provisions for their implementation, these laws and
regulations have not functioned well in reality. To gain their due
rights and interests, migrant workers, as well as the governments,
have paid dearly. Disputes caused by defaulted payments to migrant
workers have become a major social issue.
As Henan Province's regulation comes into effect, migrant
workers will have a law that truly speaks for them. It will at
least enable migrant laborers working in Henan to get strong legal
support.
The new regulation shows that society has further realized the
importance of migrant laborers. This regulation is not a special
favor, it is something that has been due to migrant workers for
quite some time.
We will hopefully see similar regulations issued in other areas
in the near future
(China Daily July 28, 2006)
