Migrant workers' intellectual life needs to be better attended to, says a signed article in Dazhong Daily. The following is an excerpt:

The municipal government of Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, has just invited more than 2,000 migrant workers to watch a show at the government's expense.

The Wuhan government has done so to show its cares about the city's migrant workers.

Migrant workers play an important role in urban development, but their intellectual life is not well attended to.

A recent survey indicated that over 80 percent of migrant workers spend their spare time sleeping and chatting, nearly 60 are not satisfied with the intellectual part of their life and more than 40 percent do not have any books.

Experts point out that migrant workers do not have much entertainment due to their limited income. With an average salary of between 600 and 1200 yuan (US$79 to US$158) per month, migrant workers think it a luxury to spend 20 yuan on a movie or 25 yuan on a book.

Another important reason is that migrant workers' employers and related administrative departments do not attach enough attention to improving their intellectual life.

A rich intellectual life will improve their quality of life and inject vigor into their minds. Some migrant workers indulge in gambling, drug-abuse, theft and other malpractices just because they have too much spare time and energy and do not know what to do with it.

Improving migrant workers' intellectual life is an urgent mission in maintaining social stability, balancing the development of rural and urban areas and constructing a harmonious society.

The Wuhan government has set a good example for local authorities in showing sincere concern to migrant workers.

It is necessary to turn the concern for migrant workers' intellectual life into the administration's regular work. Based on that, the kindness to the migrant workers is hopefully to reach every member of the city.

(China Daily November 24, 2007)