China is expected to send more skilled workers abroad in the next few years.

So said the annual review of the China International Contractors Association.

An increasing number of senior sailors, technicians, and consultants will work abroad because of the promotion of education and professional training at home, said the report.

However, workers in some labour-intensive sectors such as construction and textiles are expected to still be a large proportion of the country's overseas workers.

The earnings of Chinese workers who go abroad for jobs are likely to increase by 10 per cent year-on-year this year and next, the report said.

Last year many more Chinese workers went abroad for work. They earned a total of US$4.8 billion, up more than 25 per cent from 2004.

The value of contracts rose 21.2 per cent year-on-year, to US$4.25 billion.

At the end of 2005, 565,000 Chinese workers were employed in foreign markets. More than half of them are working in Asia.

Due to the opening up of the Russian market, last year Europe paid about US$180 million to Chinese people working there.

More than 60 per cent of Chinese labourers who work overseas have manufacturing or construction jobs.

The report said there were problems facing overseas workers such as poor management and training and bad performances of some firms.

The report suggested the Chinese Government and industrial associations should speed up legislation for the sector.

This would strengthen the management of "job" firms and clarify their obligations and the penalties of any breach, it said.

(China Daily 04/06/2006 page10)

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