Social Security Policies for Migrant Workers in China and Possible Future Development

Abstract

The large scale movement of migrant workers from rural to urban areas in China started in the early 1980s. Because the current social security system is based on a household registration system, migrant workers have difficulty fitting in. There are some landmark developments in policies towards migrant workers: the change from controlling migration to protecting their rights is one of them. The policies have been changing over time and this paper will provide a descriptive account of the changes and as well as an estimate of future development.