Deputies call for guarantee of jobs for migrant workers

SHANGHAI: The municipal government should set aside certain employment vacancies for migrant job seekers after the Spring Festival holiday, three migrant worker deputies to the city's people's congress suggested.

With the worldwide financial crisis showing no signs of slowing down, migrant workers returning home are worried about losing their jobs after coming back from the holiday, according to Zhang Xiongwei, Hong Gang and Pan Aifang, the three people elected to represent the city's five million migrant workers before the local legislative body.

"The government should do something to make them go home happily and come back with a hope (to find a job). Migrant workers make a huge contribution to Shanghai's fast development," Zhang said.