Forty-seven Chinese migrant workers were elected to attend the upcoming 15th national congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU).

It is the first time migrant workers have attended the meeting. They will represent more than 66 million people who come from rural areas and land jobs in cities.

The five-day ACFTU national congress is scheduled to start on Friday. A total of 2,118 deputies, including 568 female unionists, will participate.

China has the highest number of trade union members in the world, with membership increasing from 123 million in 2003 to 209 million by June, 2008.

The ACFTU national congress is held every four years. The previous session was convened in Beijing in September 2003, with more than 1,600 deputies present.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2008)