China has ordered companies in construction, mining and other risky sectors to buy work injury insurance for their farmers-turned employees, which observers see as an unprecedented move to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the underprivileged migrant workers.

According to a circular issued recently by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, which reached Xinhua Thursday, priority will be given this year to millions of migrant workers in construction, mining and other sectors where employees are more likely to sustain industrial injuries or vocational damages.

The practice will be expanded to all sectors in the future.

Migrant workers suffering work injuries and vocational damages at those sectors often find themselves in a hopeless position as their employers refuse to pay compensation for severe work injuries, vocational diseases or loss of lives.

All employers at those sectors should buy industrial injury insurance for farmers-turned employees if they signed labor contracts, or face punishment, according to the circular.

Chinese officials at various levels have worked hard to help migrant workers, mostly in the construction sector, to get their payment in arrears, and billions of US dollars has been retrieved and paid to the migrant workers over the last year.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2004)