Compulsory standards on living conditions for migrant workers should be made as detailed as possible, says a commentary in Beijing News. An excerpt follows:

An official from the Beijing construction authority is reported to have said that migrant workers' dorms on construction sites must have a heating system in place. Construction companies would be warned or even have their projects stopped if the dorms did not have a temperature over 16 C.

It is definitely a move showing real care for migrant workers. And this time, the authorities have come up with a solid punishment for violations: No warm dorms, no construction works. It reflects concern for the welfare of migrant workers over the urban infrastructure, and respect for their dignity as well.

But now that there is a concrete standard in place for the temperature of migrant workers' dorms, how about the other aspects of their lives?

A survey by the National Bureau of Statistics released in October said that only 20 per cent of migrant workers questioned were satisfied with their food, shelter and medical care. Reports of migrant workers having to eat inferior food are not unusual.

Migrant workers' dorms are also far from comfortable. It is common for scores of them to be accommodated in one room.

Migrant workers have made huge contributions to urban construction in this country, yet they live in ultra-poor conditions.

It is therefore necessary for the government to set compulsory standards covering the basic needs of migrant workers, including food, shelter, hygiene and room temperature.

Some may worry that it is fussing over a trivial issue for the government to take care of the details in migrant workers' lives.

But such requirements could never be too much when they involve maintaining individual dignity and safeguarding individual rights.

As a matter of fact, the government should also set up complementary guidelines on awards and punishment for those doing an excellent or poor job in this regard, and ensure they are put into practice.

(China Daily December 6, 2006)