"In the process of advancing urbanization, many new-generation migrant workers cannot find a suitable social position and are facing unprecedented survival challenges, even the predicament of marginalization," said Chen Qinghua, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), with emotion.

In his view, the new generation of migrant workers faces many problems, including social exclusion. The long-term isolation between urban and rural societies and the dominant position of cities have led many urban residents to gradually develop a cultural mentality that excludes migrant workers.

 

Chen Qinghua also believes that the household registration (hukou) management system is the biggest obstacle to migrant workers' integration into cities. Many migrant workers have poor employment benefits, their rights and interests are difficult to fully protect, and the relevant skills training system is not sound enough.

 

To this end, he suggested:

 

First, accelerate the reform of the household registration system, gradually strip away the unfair welfare systems attached to the hukou, speed up the formulation of policies for the new generation of migrant workers to settle in cities, further explore equal public service models such as medical care, elderly care and employment, and carry out legal aid, poverty relief and emergency assistance for this group.

 

Second, improve the housing supply and security system for migrant workers. For those among the new generation of migrant workers who have stable employment and certain economic capacity, various types of affordable housing such as low-cost housing should be provided by reference to the income standards of urban residents; relatively concentrated migrant worker apartments should be built; a small-apartment rental market should be cultivated; and a migrant worker housing supply system focusing on low-end market rentals and supplemented by affordable housing should be gradually established. In addition, relevant departments should also reserve space for migrant workers in terms of land supply and urban planning, and establish special funds for migrant workers' urban housing and a housing subsidy system for migrant workers.

 

Third, increase skills training for migrant workers, improve the labor dispute coordination mechanism, fully implement the labor contract system, and enable migrant workers to have stable incomes and guaranteed livelihoods, so that they can truly integrate into cities.