Migrant workers will be covered by unemployment policies for urban residents, said Zhang Xiaojian, Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, as he met with three migrant worker deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC).

On March 3, Hu Xiaoyan, Kang Houming and Zhu Xueqin, three migrant worker NPC deputies, had a face-to-face meeting with Zhang Xiaojian, during which the deputies questioned the vice minister about pressing issues like the employment bottleneck facing returning migrant workers, transfer of social security insurance, and employment training.

In his response, Zhang Xiaojian said the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security would direct more attention to returning migrant workers, and plans to include them in policies for which previously only urban unemployed were eligible.

10 percent unemployment

Over the past year, more than 10 percent of the country's 200 million migrant workers have lost their jobs in the face of the global financial crisis. Kang Houming, who comes from southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, said he had carried out a field survey in a number of villages and found that in one labor-exporting village, 20-30 of the previously employed population of 100 people had lost their jobs in coastal cities.

"I am a construction worker, and in my profession there are still many job vacancies. But those who have just returned home don't have construction skills and they are unlikely to fill that gap." Kang Houming said, "I hope the authorities can help them more with employment training."

Migrant workers to be protected by favorable policies

The vice minister replied by saying that the ministry is currently arranging large-scale employment training for migrant workers and will include returned migrant workers among those eligible for favorable employment policies. The ministry is also considering appointing industry-specific trainers and issuing free training coupons to assist with re-employment of migrants.