China's trade union organization is to give more than 500 million yuan (US$66.05 million) to help the education of children from the poorest working families.

Luan Yue, an official of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), said the fund would help 476,000 students around the country, including 87,000 children of migrant workers. Students who parents earn the legal minimum wage in their area would be eligible, Luan said.

The minimum monthly wage set by the Beijing municipal government, for example, has been 330 yuan since July 1.

Families who earn slightly above the minimum wage, but who have seriously-ill or disabled members or who face other hardship, migrant workers who have to support children attending city schools, and families paying for high school tuition were also eligible.

A report from the Nanjing trade union organization showed that in 2007, primary school and junior high school students could get 400 yuan, senior high school students 800 yuan, and college students 2,000 yuan.

The ACFTU launched the "Golden Autumn Education Program" two years ago and collected more than 840 million yuan for 874,000 students in 2005 and 2006, Luan said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2007)