China's Ministry of Agriculture will initiate a training program for rural redundant laborers in 50 pilot counties beginning this year, a ministry official said Saturday.

At a national forum on rural unemployment held in Chongqing Municipality, southwest China, the official said the training program requires trainees to at least graduate from junior middle school and to have the will to work in cities.

The training program will not only offer professional training, but also teach legal knowledge, city living and means to protect basic rights.

The training programs will be initiated in counties of provinces and municipalities, which are rich in migrant laborers, like Hubei, Anhui, Chongqing and Sichuan.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2003)