Migration and Social protection in China

Monash University 's Asian Business and Economics Research Unit together with the Institute of Population and Labour Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Renmin-Monash Advanced Centre for Economic Studies will stage an international conference on ‘Migration and Social Protection in China' on 25–26 September 2007 in Beijing .

THEMES

China has an estimated 120-150 million internal migrants from the countryside living in its cities. These people have been the engine room that has been driving China 's high rate of economic growth. However, until recently, little or no attention has been given to the establishment of a social protection regime for migrant workers. Now, the promotion of a social security system for migrant workers has become one of the top priorities in China , consistent with the central government's objectives of ‘establishing a harmonious society' and the integration of rural and urban populations.

In March 2006, the State Council put forward several proposals for addressing social protection issues relevant to rural migrant workers. Following State Council Resolution No. 5 in April 2006 the State Council established a Leading Group on Migrant Workers and an Office of Migrant Workers, located within the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in China to oversee the extension of social security and social services to migrant workers.

The focus of the conference is on the key issues involved in establishing a social protection regime for migrant workers including a critical examination of deficiencies in existing arrangements and a study of proposals that have been offered by the Chinese government and international lending agencies for extending social security coverage.

Specific issues to be addressed include:

•  Labour market integration and social protection

•  Migrant participation in social security schemes

•  Migrant alternatives to state-sponsored social protection

•  Migrant working conditions, salaries and wage arrears

•  Responsibilities of government in the provision of social protection

For further details on the conference, contact

Ingrid Nielsen on 9905 2401 E-mail: Ingrid.Nielsen@BusEco.monash.edu.au or
Russell Smyth on 9903 2134 E-mail: Russell.Smyth@BusEco.monash.edu.au