Cities to absorb more migrant workers

China is stepping up efforts to better protect the interest of migrant workers, especially the generation born after 1980s. The government plans to push forward urbanization to absorb more migrant workers into cities.

China's migrant workforce is shifting to the younger generations, those born in 1980s and 1990s.

Tang Renjian, Deputy Director of Office of Central Rural Work Leading Group, said, "These younger migrant workers account for 60 percent of the overall migrant work force of 150 million. They are about 100 million."

Unlike older migrant workers, the younger generation are not familiar with rural work and agriculture. They are more eager to become part of the society in cities. Officials say they will take measures to improve conditions for them.

Tang said, "We will take measures to push forward urbanization, to allow qualified migrant workers to dwell in cities."

Steps will be taken to protect their interests, including employment, training, and other aspects of their livelihoods. The government will also provide free training courses to build a work force for the future.

The move is part of China's efforts to push forward urbanization, with the aim of better coordinating rural and urban development. Urbanization and creating a new socialist countryside are two major priorities as China addresses rural issues.

Li Guoxiang, researcher of Rural Development Institute, CASS, said, "The two directions are related. If the relationship is well dealt with, we will have more sustainable development of the city, as well as the rural areas."

China is working to develop medium and small cities, and key townships, in order to transform rural residents into city dwellers. China has a vast rural population. It's estimated that if the country's total population reaches 1.5 billion, with an urbanization rate of 70 percent, there will still be four-hundred to five-hundred million rural residents.