The national trade union federation yesterday launched a nationwide inspection campaign to improve work safety and minimize death and injuries among migrant workers.

The campaign, to be completed in September, aims to improve safety awareness among employees and employers in mining, construction, and processing and manufacturing, three sectors which provide millions of low paid jobs for the country's farmers-turned-workers.

The campaign is a joint effort by All-China Federation of Trade Unions and State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), the government's safety watchdog.

"Most accidents happen in these three sectors, and the majority of the victims are migrant workers," said Zhang Mingqi, member of the secretariat of the federation, which represents 150 unions.

Zhang said China's migrant workers are facing three major problems: low pay, poor work safety conditions and insufficient social security.

"The problems have resulted in social unrest, and if the trend continues, the health of migrant workers and social stability will be threatened," he warned.

Statistics indicate that more than 200 million migrants flocked to urban areas to find jobs in 2005. More than 80 per cent of miners are farmers-turned-workers, as well as 70 per cent in construction and 68 per cent in processing and manufacturing.

"The families of the workers are also victims," said Zhang.

Of the 10,807 deaths in mining and construction sectors in 2005, more than 75 percent were migrant workers, according to SAWS statistics.

"Our campaign aims to change the situation for the better," said Zhang.

One example of changes advocated by the federation is the introduction of work safety supervisors.

Zhang said the Ministry of Construction would work with the federation to choose experienced construction workers as work safety supervisors at China's many building sites.

"The first task force will be appointed at the end of this month," said Zhang.

The appointment follows the federation's effort last year to form a task force of 100,000 veterans to watch over the safety for the country's 1 million coal miners.

So far about 70,000 senior miners have been appointed to the role, and the federation plans to expand the scheme to all of the country's 28,000 coal mines.

"The scheme is successful as there have been no major accidents where there have been supervisors," said Zhang.

Just like those in the mines, construction supervisors will conduct daily safety checks, train new workers and help lead fellow workers to safety should accidents occur, said Zhang.

(China Daily June 14, 2006)