Millions of rural Chinese have moved to the largest cities, seeking jobs, but without formal access or rights to services. Chinese officials are concerned that the unequal treatment of urban and rural residents may lead to social instability.
According to the Xinhua news agency, about 87 million people live in urban areas without residency permits. These migrants take jobs in the construction industry in China's cities. "The current residency permit system, which has operated for decades, denies these migrants access to services which are an automatic right to native city dwellers. Many migrants also suffer from unfair treatment, including the denial of payment, as employers feel they can take advantage of the incomers' different legal status." "China's authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about the growing gap between the urban rich and the rural poor - and anxious that it could lead to social instability. The residency proposals are just one of a number of measures China has recently put forward to try to reduce this discrepancy."
Thanks to Kurt Paulsen
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