Beijing is preparing to reform its statute on temporary
residency which could lead to providing 3.57 million migrant
workers rights equal to those of permanent Beijing residents.
A draft regulation will be submitted to municipal legislature
next year, said Ji Lin, a vice mayor of Beijing, while attending a
meeting on the management of the floating population.
"Migrants are playing a more important role in the construction
of Beijing. They are part of us", Ji was quoted as saying in
Wednesday's Beijing Star Daily.
"They deserve more services and better protection of their
rights", Ji said.
Ji said the government is in the process of researching the
reform but did not give details on its progress.
Insiders predict the new statute will help residents from other
regions of the country win access to more services that are only
available to those who have a "Hukou", or permanent
residence certificate.
Almost 15 million people live in Beijing.
The changes will likely make it easier for out-of-town residents
to obtain driver licenses and apply for bank loans for cars or
apartments and receive social assistance.
Migrant workers in Beijing often face discrimination in job
hunting and have difficulty sending their children to schools.
People who move to Beijing from other parts of the country are
required to obtain temporary resident cards, which helps track of
the massive influx of workers.
Zheng Gang, an official with the municipal people's congress
says the added millions from other areas are putting pressure on
the city's natural resources, education, employment, environment
and social security.
Authorities are realizing that the solution lies in shifting
from trying to control migrant workers to providing better services
to the outsiders.
(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2006)