The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Finance are reported to have issued a joint document – Memo on implementation of Special Vocational Training – requiring local governments to arrange employment-oriented training for returned migrant workers and those who are still looking for jobs in neighboring towns, while issuing them with allowances. Some labor-exporting and importing provinces have already allocated special funds to finance these training programs.

Social security insurance transfer arrangements

The three deputies also highlighted the problem of transferring social security insurance. Kang Houming noted that some of his fellow migrant workers are unable to cash in their social security insurance in their hometowns, while some other cities allow migrant workers to quit their insurance policy and at best recover only their personal contributions to their funds.

In response, Zhang Xiaojian said that the transfer of social security insurance is a key issue that will be solved this year, and that a breakthrough can be expected soon.

In addition, with reference to the issue of breakdowns in the flow of employment information, also raised by the three deputies, Zhang Xiaojian replied that his ministry had now required local offices to create a broader and better docking platform between labor-exporting provinces and those that receive the migrant workers.

(China.org.cn March 5, 2009)