Burden on laborers needs to be eased

A migrant worker counts his pay at a local labor right protection center, in Shenyang, northeast Chinas Liaoning province, November 24, 2008. [Photo/IC]

A report released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday revealed that more than 46 million migrant workers over the age of 50 are still doing physical work nationwide, or 17.1 percent of the total. Comments:

Farmers in their 50s are in an awkward position as their physical condition is declining, but they still need to take care of their aged parents and raise their children. The majority of them have no pension, and the poor incomes they derive from growing crops is far from enough to meet their needs. It is their economic burden that forces them to work as laborers in cities.

Zhang Yi, a researcher at the Institute of Sociology, affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, May 3

Some of the aged migrant workers look strong and healthy, but actually they are already exhausted by a life of heavy physical work. It is predictable that many of them will be sent to hospital within a few years, while more will have to wait for death at home because they cannot afford the prohibitively expensive medical bills. It shames the State that these people are forced to do heavy physical labor.

gwm.cn, May 3

Worse than what report reveals is the fact that many elderly migrant workers have their payments in arrears - on average, enterprises owed each of them 9,511 yuan ($1,533) last year alone. When such disputes occur, responsible government agencies will always kick away from their doors the migrant workers seeking help and refuse to punish the employers; which has only worsened the situation. It is time for government officials to stop passing the buck and do their jobs seriously.

Zhou Litai, a Chongqing-based lawyer specializingin legal aid for migrant workers, May 3