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Residence card now open to migrants
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2004-10-09 08:53
Beginning yesterday, migrants were allowed to apply for a Shanghai Residence
Card.
The policy change came as a new residence management rule went into
effect on a pilot basis on October 1, which lifted restrictions on migrant
applicants.
Four areas - including a zone around Jing'an Temple, Zhabei
District's Daning Road, Sitang area and Luojing Town in suburban Baoshan
District - were selected as pilot areas for migrants to apply for the
card.
Card holders are entitled to the same benefits as locals. This
includes social security insurance programs and entering children into schools
for compulsory education.
Hu Weiguo, a local who came for information for
a migrant friend, said the change is big news.
"Migrants are sensitive to
news closely connected with their own rights and benefits," Hu said, adding that
the equal education opportunity for children was the most appealing benefit for
his Gansu Province friend.
Previously, only highly-skilled professional
migrants such as engineers and senior managers qualified for a residence
card.
According to the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, the
policy could be extended to the entire city by the year end.
Under the
new rule, migrants with a steady job or residence in the city were allowed to
apply for a residence card. The card costs 25 yuan (US$3.01) and will take about
40 days to be approved.
People on short-term business or study trips and
visitors do not need to apply for the card.
The new policy triggered
great interest from migrants in the city.
At Jing'an Temple community
service center, more than 40 people inquired about the residence card yesterday.
Only two qualified as most people have not prepared all the necessary materials.
At the Daning Road community service center, only 12 out of hundreds of
applicants were successful.
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