Beijing: Zhou Pei, a national lawmaker and the deputy manager of a construction company's recruitment arm, is set to present his proposals aimed at supporting rural migrant workers at an upcoming national political assembly in China. In early March, he will participate in the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, where deputies will deliberate on crucial national issues.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Zhou plans to emphasize the advancement of craftsmanship and the transformation of rural migrant workers into high-caliber industrial workers. His focus on these workers is informed by his extensive experience spanning three decades at Dayuan Construction Group in north China's Hebei Province. Zhou, who began his career as a carpenter and has received numerous national awards for his work, has been responsible for recruiting construction workers for the group since 2023.

Zhou highlighted a significant issue stating, "Migrant workers in labor-intensive industries seldom participate in vocational skills training and have limited exposure to new technologies and emerging business models, which makes it difficult for them to meet the increasing demands of modern industry." Over the past four decades, China has seen a substantial influx of rural migrant workers into labor-intensive, non-agricultural sectors, such as manufacturing and construction. These workers have made notable contributions to China's burgeoning economy.

However, with the country's technology-driven industrial upgrades, there is an expectation for workers to acquire new skills to meet the demands of industries, including advanced manufacturing, which are vital for national security and high-quality development. Zhou, in his efforts to understand the challenges faced by migrant workers, often engages in discussions with them and documents their concerns.

Based on these insights, Zhou proposed that the group enters long-term contracts with employees and encourages their participation in comprehensive training programs. He has also facilitated the introduction of building information modeling and other practical courses at the vocational training institution linked to his company, which annually trains about 10,000 professionals for the construction industry.

"With constant training, many rural migrant workers have gradually become professionals needed by the modern construction industry, generating more benefits for the enterprise," Zhou stated. Zhou's advocacy is part of a broader movement for the welfare of China's migrant workers. In 2023, 497 frontline workers and farmers, including 56 migrant workers, were elected as deputies to the 14th NPC, a significant increase from just three in 2008.

This surge reflects the continually growing population of rural migrant workers in China, which reached nearly 300 million in 2023, accounting for over one-fifth of the national population. Emerging job roles such as online delivery and livestreaming sales are increasingly appealing to the new generation of rural migrant workers, noted Wang Bengao, director of the rural migrant worker service center of Renshou County in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Wang added, "With the development of the economic and social environment, the new generation places more value on factors such as working environment, life quality and development prospects."

Amidst these evolving dynamics, migrant worker representatives from diverse regions have been vocal in expressing their views and suggesting measures to address the critical concerns of their peers. Their efforts are yielding results as more policies and measures are being enacted to safeguard the rights and interests of migrant workers.

A recent development is a guideline issued by Chinese central authorities in November, advocating for increased vocational skills training and improved public services for rural migrant workers. These initiatives serve as motivation for the country's migrant workers to continue advancing. "We will pursue excellent and meticulous work and enable workers to transition into competent industrial workers in the new era," Zhou concluded.