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Residence certificate

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-02 07:40

The replacement of traditional household certificates with residence certificates in Shenzhen Economic Zone is by no means a name-change game. It means a great deal to about 14 percent of its population.

With a population of 14 million, only 2 million are holding the traditional household certificates, which can guarantee them privileges in obtaining compulsory education opportunities for their children or other social benefits. Without it, the residents, though working in this city for years, are denied equal treatment in the aforementioned social benefits, and they do not even have the convenience to get a business visa from the local government for Hong Kong or Macao trips.

To be honest, compared with three decades ago, the social benefits a household certificate brings to its holders are much fewer. When most of the daily necessities were rationed in the 1960s or 70s. it was almost impossible for a person who did not have a local certificate to make a living in a city.

The certificate makes it quite clear where the holder works and stays. So it was impossible for people to move from one place to another without changing his or her household certificate.

The prosperity brought about by the economic reform has resulted in the abolition of the rationing regime. That has made it possible for surplus rural labor to swarm into cities to seek a fortune and at the same time contribute to the country's urban expansion.

In this perspective, the slackening control of the traditional household registration regime contributed to the narrowing of the gap between rural and urban residents as rural migrant workers have been given the chance of changing their fate by working in cities. Even the majority working on construction sites may remit part of their income back to their home villages.

Yet, the certificate still remains a tool to prevent outsiders from enjoying the same social benefits as locals. This is why the regime has been accused of being the source of discrimination against non-locals.

Shenzhen's move to issue residence certificates to all living and working in the city will certainly remove the discrimination against non-locals. Its stipulation has it that children of residence certificate holders will enjoy free compulsory education, and if they stay in the city for 10 years, they will enjoy its social security and other benefits.

This should be the goal other cities need to reach in the long run, but it is impractical for the rest of the country to follow suit right now. Sound rules and management must ensure that few will take advantage of the change to enjoy social benefits without making contributions.

(China Daily 07/02/2008 page8)