(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-02-05 07:29

The practical problems facing migrant workers should be solved so that they can relax even if they cannot go home to celebrate Spring Festival, says an article in People's Daily. The following is an excerpt:

The snow-related disaster that has hit the country is without precedent. Snowstorms have paralyzed power grids and rail lines in many places. Take Guangzhou Railway Station as an example: As many as 600,000 passengers were stuck there on January 28.

To reduce the traffic pressure and ensure the safety of passengers, local governments and enterprises have encouraged migrant workers to stay where they work and celebrate Spring Festival without going home.

Despite this warm invitation, rail lines in the southern part of China are still crammed with passengers, many of whom are carrying heavy bags upon their shoulders and backs. Most of them are anxious to get out of the cities where they work and get home as early as possible.

People may wonder why migrant workers are so eager to go home for the festival. Actually, quite a few practical problems are drawing them home. They may expect to reunite with their parents and kids. They may be deciding on a plan for the next year with their family, or they may worry that the heavy snow will destroy their thatched houses in the countryside.

To help migrant workers celebrate the Lunar New Year in the cities where they work, government bodies need to take active measures to solve practical problems for these people. Besides the disaster relief effort, work must be done to look after the young and old that the migrant workers left behind.

We believe that all the people, whether they plan to go home or not, will have a nice holiday thanks to the efforts of society and the government.

(China Daily 02/05/2008 page8)