Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
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February 2, 2009

World Economic Slowdown Causes Millions to Lose Jobs in China
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=21FFE20:A6F02AD83191E16040746B21D8B9AA77D937473925D9872C&
 
New figures show 20 million migrant workers out of work as factories
take measure to cope with global decrease in demand for Chinese-made
goods 
Migrant workers arrive at Beijing Railway Station (Dec 2008 file photo)A
Chinese official says an estimated 20 million migrant workers have lost
their jobs because of the global economic crisis. This comes amid
government warnings that rising unemployment could fuel social unrest.
Official statistics compiled at the end of 2008 put the overall number
of China's migrant workers at 130 million. These are people who leave
their homes, often in rural areas, to work in big cities where there are
better job opportunities. Chen Xiwen, director of the office that
advises Chinese Communist Party leaders on policies affecting the
country's farmers, said roughly 20 million migrant workers, or more than
15 percent, are out of work. Demand for exports down Chen says this is
because the global financial crisis has caused what he described as "a
slump" in external Chinese export demand in eastern and coastal parts of
the country. China's economy has plunged in recent months as a sharp
decline in demand for Chinese-made goods, globally, has forced thousands
of factories to close. Chen said the matter is exacerbated because those
who are out of work are also competing with six million others who seek
to enter the migrant worker job market each year. Government looking for
ways to create jobs Chen estimates a total of 26 million rural migrant
workers are facing employment pressure. He says the government is
looking at ways to create jobs and ensure public welfare, as a way of
promoting social stability. The latest figures were based on a Ministry
of Agriculture survey of 165 villages in 15 provinces. The survey was
conducted before the Lunar New Year holiday, which was celebrated the
last week in January and is a time when people traditionally return
home. Chen's news conference in Beijing Monday comes one day after the
government issued its first big policy document for 2009, focusing on
rural development. The document calls on the government to better
address so-called "sensitive" issues - such as the unlawful
requisitioning 
of farmers' land and pollution. Chen said the document shows that
China's Communist Party and government take very seriously the issue of
rural migrant worker employment, as well as the importance of
maintaining social harmony and stability. Chen acknowledged there were
recent incidents of mass demonstrations by unemployed rural migrant
workers, in different parts of China. But he said these protests
happened largely because the lawful rights and interests of the rural
residents were not well-protected. 


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