Migrant Farmer-Workers Becoming New City Residents

The investigation group of the China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS) went on a study tour of Shanghai Municipality and Wuxi, Zhenjiang and Changzhou of Jiangsu Province June 23-30, 2004 and found that the four cities had made gratifying achievements in protecting the rights and interests of migrant farmer workers and a large number of such workers are becoming new city residents of a number of cities     

Protection of Rights Ensures Women''''s Development--An interview with Liu Qunying,chair of Fujian Women''''s Federation

Editor's note: Following is the interview with Liu Qunying, chair of the Women's Federation of Fuijian Province, about how women's rights and interests are protected in this southeastern province.     

Blue Paper on the Role of Chinese Trade Unions in Safeguarding the Legitimate Rights and Interests of Workers （2005） （Excerpt）

EDITOR'S NOTE: All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) has recently published Blue Paper on the Role of Chinese Trade Unions in Safeguarding the Legitimate Rights and Interests of Workers (2005), which consist of 11 parts: preserve the correct orientation of Chinese trade unions as a protector of workers' legitimate rights and interests; protect workers' right to join and form trade union; organize and represent workers to exercise the right to equal consultation; protect workers' labor and economic rights; guarantee workers' democratic and political rights; fulfill workers' spiritual and cultural needs; actively participate in adjusting labor relations and handling labor disputes; protect migrant workers' legitimate rights and interests; promote gender equality and protect women workers' special rights and interests; take innovations in the way trade unions protect workers; and mobilize and organize workers to play the role of the working class as the main force in economic construction, and the following is an abstracted edition of it     

China''''s Constitution:Guarantee for People''''s Rights

The Communist Party of China, which represents the fundamental interests of the broadest possible masses of the people, has always attached much importance to the rights of the people and the safeguard measures. As early as in the New Democratic Revolution period, it adopted in Ruijin, Jiangxi Province, an Outline Constitution of the All-China Soviet Republic in January 1934. The document stipulated that all workers, peasants, soldiers and other labor populace and their families, irrespective of their gender, ethnic group or religion, are equal before the law of the Soviet and enjoy the right to work,     

China''''s Constitution:Guarantee for People''''s Rights

The Communist Party of China, which represents the fundamental interests of the broadest possible masses of the people, has always attached much importance to the rights of the people and the safeguard measures. As early as in the New Democratic Revolution period, it adopted in Ruijin, Jiangxi Province, an Outline Constitution of the All-China Soviet Republic in January 1934. The document stipulated that all workers, peasants, soldiers and other labor populace and their families, irrespective of their gender, ethnic group or religion, are equal before the law of the Soviet and enjoy the right to work, supervision, education and the freedom     

Safeguarding Farmer Workers' Rights and Interests——An interview with Ye Jingyi, professor of Beijing University Law School

Farmer workers are a new powerful workforce that has sprung up amid China's reform and door opening and in the process of the country's industrialization and urbanization. They have made great contributions to urban prosperity, rural development and their country's modernization. At present, however, fanner workers face numerous difficulties and problems in income, work safety, social security, vocational training, the schooling of their children and living conditions. To safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of farmer workers, the State Council in March 2006 issued Ideas of the State Council on Solving Farmer Workers-related Problems. In the document, the State Council promises to     

Cashing in On the Dream

The intellectual property rights of Olympic symbols,logos and mascots as well as the interests of the game sponsors are better protected with increasing attention on property right protection in China     

Migrant Workers： Urban Underclass

ACCORDING to official statistics, there are now 130 million (equivalent to half the American population) migrant workers in Chinese cities. This means that China has more migrant than urban workers, and that they constitute the main Chinese industrial workforce. To those familiar with China, this phenomenon is an important signal for social change. The term farmer carries quite different connotations in China from what it does in the West, where farming is a profession taken up by well-educated people and involves large-scale mechanical production. Also known as agricultural industrial workers, fanners have a social status equal to that of urban dwellers. In China, being a fanner is synonymous with low social status. Chinese fanners have a comparatively poor education and live on a small patch of farmland (per capita farmland is less than 1 mu, 1 mu = 1/15 hectare). Some farmers work in non-agricultural industries, or go to cities as migrant workers, but do not enjoy the same political rights and social     

Thoroughly Modem Migrants

Chinese migrant workers have made the cover of 17me magazine for their role in promoting China＇s development. They have dreams and pursuits like you and I, and they long to blend into cities and become part of modem society. These citizens and their aspirations are getting the respect and concern they deserve. As this issue goes to press, the Chinese people are celebrating the 61st anniversary of the founding of the PRC, and this special report on migrant workers takes a closer look at the lives and inner realities of the generation that will pose a challenge to the country＇s social institutions and services.     

Basic Facts About Human Rights In Tibet

How are human rights in Tibet? This is an issue made a mess of on the international scene. A fair evaluation of the human rights situation in Tibet depends on an answer to these two questions: First, whether human rights conditions in Tibet have improved under the leadership of the Communist Party of China or remained unchanged or even worsened; and second, whether or not the unique interests and rights of Tibetans as an ethnic minority group have been effectively protected. I would like to provide some basic facts as an answer to these questions.     

How China Protects People's Right to Labor——An interview with Labor and Social Security Minister Tian Chengping

EDITOR'S NOTE:Following is an interview given to our staff reporter by Chinese Minister Tian Chengping of Labor and Social Security on protection of the people's right to labor,which is an important part of the national endeavor to protect human rights.The minister spoke on a range of questions,including employment and reemployment of workers in Chinese cities,wages of migrant workers from the countryside,efforts to narrow the gap of income between different population groups,and protection of the legitimate rights and interests of the working masses.     

The Progress and Analysis of Women＇s Human Rights Protection in the Legislation 2007 in China

The year 2007 witnessed ＂the new progress in the construction of democracy and legal system, the reliable development of administration by law, and the strengthened guarantee of people＇s rights and interests as well as the safeguard of social equity and justice＂ in China. In this year, both the National People＇s Congress and its Standing Committee as well as local People＇s Congresses at levels and their standing committees were active in performing their duties, constituting and promulgating a series of laws and regulations. These laws and regulations have directly or indirectly concerned the fights and interests of women. This article is going to briefly sum up and analyze the provisions in the pertinent legislation in China in 2007 that directly involve the fights and interests of women,     

Can Opening ‘Ethics Files’ on Medical Staff Improve Patients’ Care?

Healthcare workers in Shanghai are walking the line after recent news that regulations issued by local health authorities will soon enforce the opening of an “ethics file” for each of the city’s 140,000 medical workers. According to the regulations, once it is found that medical workers have taken commercial bribery orhongbao (cash gift in envelopes), or even disrespected the rights and interests of patients, they will be deprived of the right to be awarded the title of “excellent worker” and the right to pro-motion. The regulations also advocate dis-missal.     

The Real Picture Of Xinjiang

正In Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the right to freedom of religious belief is well protected and fully guaranteed. Religious service facilities have rights, such as establishing a democratic management organization, running internal affairs, organizing religious activities, receiving donations, managing and using property, and setting up social public welfare undertakings in accordance with law and regulations. The legitimate rights and interests of places for religious activities are protected by laws.     

CASS： Women Migrant Workers Paid Less Than Their Male Counterparts

Female migrant workers are paid considerably less than their male counterparts, according to the recent report Gender Differences in the Migrant Workers＇ Market. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences （CASS） carried out a survey in Dalian, Shanghai, Wu- han, Shenzhen and Chongqing. Among the 2,398 migrant workers surveyed, 52 percent were female, with an average age of 28.1, The average age of male respondents was 30.3. The survey found female workers＇ average monthly salary ts RMB 910.78, RMB 200 lower than men＇s. As well as being paid more, male workers spend longer periods in the city-one and half years on average.     

“Harmony”Concept and China''''s Human Rights

What is summarized as"harmony is of paramount importance" is a most prominent philosophical approach embraced by China's Confucian culture. This is an extension of the approach summarized as "the people are of paramount importance." It calls for harmonious human relations, obliging one to respect others' rights and interests while protecting the rights and interests of one's own. Harmony as a philosophical approach manifests itself, in many ways, in the realm of human rights in China today. To name just a few: the country's political system of multi-party cooperation under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, harmony that prevails between different religions in the country, and the country's call for international dialogue and cooperation to promote the human rights cause. As a fine Chinese tradition, this philosophical approach is being carried forward.     

Chinese Trade Unions Strive to Protect Workers' Rights and Interests in Dealing with the Global Financial Crisis

Protecting the rights and interests of workers and staff members constitutes an important aspect of China＇s human rights protection. At the time when the country is dealing with impacts of the global financial crisis, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions has been working fruitfully and effectively to accelerate economic and social development and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of workers, therefore making contributions to the protection of the rights and interests of Chinese workers. Now I would like to make a brief introduction on this subject.     

Seeking a Common Platform for Safeguarding Women＇s Rights and Interests

＂Women＇s rights and interests are human rights＂ is now a concept accepted by all. The power of the law now safeguards the rights and interests of women. Recalling efforts in recent years to safeguard women＇s rights and interests, we cannot but feel gratified to know that we have made great progress.     

Achievements in Safeguarding Disabled People＇s Rights ——An Interview with Shen Zhifei,deputy general director of the China Disabled Persons＇ Federation

There are about 83 million disabled people in China, accounting for 6.34% of the total population, according to a national survey in 2006. As a disadvantaged group, the rights and interests of the disabled are arousing more concerns from all walks of society in the country. Following is Human Rights＇ interview with Shen Zhifei, deputy general director of the China Disabled Persons＇ Federation, on the legal guarantee of the special group＇s rights and interests, their rehabilitation, education and employment.