The central government is
working on measures to protect the rights of migrant workers, Foreign Ministry
spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday in Beijing.
"Migrant workers have made and are making a great contribution to China's
economic growth," Qin said. "The government at all levels and Chinese people
have high respect for their labor."
Urbanization and industrialization have led to an estimated 200 million
migrant workers moving to cities looking for jobs, according to Qin.
Amnesty International yesterday released a report stating China's migrant
workers are becoming an "urban underclass" without proper health care, often
live in cramped conditions and have few labor rights.
"China's so-called economic miracle comes at a terrible human cost," the
report said.
"Amnesty's claim is biased and groundless," Qin said.
Acknowledging that workers' rights had been abused "in some places and
sectors in China," Qin said the government is working to eradicate mistreatment.
Meanwhile, Qin also refuted the so-called "China threat" theory yesterday.
Qin said China spends a certain amount on defense to defend the country's
sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is not for overseas expansion, Qin
added.
