(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-21 17:20

The minimum number of deputies to be elected from migrant workers is not specified, but NPC deputy regulations stipulate one deputy for every 240,000 urban and every 960,000 rural people.

Yang Chengyong, an official in charge of the election affairs of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee, hailed Hu's election as great progress.

"It not only shows China's top legislature attaches importance to the diversity of deputies, but also the public's hope for grassroots groups to have more say in policy-making," Yang said.

Migrant workers have previously held positions in provincial and city-level legislative bodies. They have become more involved in the development of the regions where they work.

Guangdong has around 20 million migrant workers. In November, six migrant workers were elected to the provincial legislature.

Zhang Yadong, a migrant worker deputy who is attending the on-going first session of the 11th Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, said he would put forward proposals regarding migrant worker issues such as the slow growth of salaries, better trade union representation and health care.

He also stressed the strict implementation of national and local laws with regard to the rights and interests of migrant workers.

   1 2   

   1 2