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Temporary residence

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-13 07:46

In the process of achieving an equal and harmonious society, it is ridiculous and unfair to still hold onto the old hukou policy, says an article on www.qianlong.com. The following is an excerpt:

No wonder calls for terminating the temporary residence policy are so strong. For years, barriers have existed for rural residents wanting to work in big cities. And the hukou policy (permanent residency) is the toughest of them.

Migrant workers from rural areas are the biggest victims. Their legal rights cannot be guaranteed, and their children also face embarrassment and discrimination if they seek the same education as their city peers. Even after they get temporary residence certificates, migrant workers are still not treated as city dwellers.

Although some provinces have initiated approaches to loosen restrictions by terminating the use of temporary residence cards and ensuring equal rights, most areas still have a long way to go.

In some cities, the situation of migrant workers is still as it used to be, but meanwhile, local authorities give the green light to those so-called elites under the hukou policy. This does nothing but deepen inequality and discrimination.

More work still needs to be done.

(China Daily 03/13/2009 page9)