Rural-urban Migrant Workers Research Articles

Introduction to China’s new normal economy

China’s economic reform has been successful, making it become a major economic power. Largely relied on low-cost investment, cheap and abundant labour and use of natural resources to support growth, China has faced a number of challenges including high debt to GDP, demographic changes and environmental degradation, along with income inequality, corruption and rent-seeking activities. In recent years, China’s economic growth rate has fallen from the historic double-digit rate to 6–7%. Chinese Government has attempted to rebalance its economy to achieve a “new normal” of slower but more sustainable economic development. This special issue aims to raise discussions concerning the ways in which further reform of the Chinese economy can be conducted in the context of challenges and opportunities of the new normal. The issue comprises five papers that exhibit special insights of interest, including the discussions on drivers of economic growth, the role of government policy played in economic growth in the coming decades, the importance of innovation and government institutions in firm performance, the impact of capital structural on firm competitiveness, as well as the relationship between the use of social networks and wages of rural–urban migrant workers.

Wage differentials between urban and rural-urban migrant workers in China

Since the end of the 1980s, the number of migrants working in the urban labor market has increased dramatically. However, migrant workers are treated differently from urban workers. In this paper we examine the labor market discrimination against rural migrants from the point of view of wage differentials using CHIP-2007 data. We apply Jann pooled method to deal with index number problem and use Heckman two step model to correct selection problem when decomposing the wage gap. The decomposition results show that a significant difference in wage gains persists between the two groups as late as 2007. In 2007 migrants only earned 49% of urban workers' income and 17% of the wage gap cannot be explained by observed factors. In detail, differences in educational attainment, work experience and distribution across industry, occupation, and ownership of enterprises account for most of the explained wage gap.

Supervisor–Subordinate Guanxi and Job Satisfaction Among Migrant Workers in China

In urban China, improving rural–urban migrant workers’ subjective wellbeing has become an important goal for workplaces and local governments. Drawing from the social capital theory and using original survey data, we examine the relationship between migrant workers’ guanxi (‘personal relations’ in the Chinese context) with their supervisors and their job satisfaction. Our results show that supervisor–subordinate guanxi is positively related to migrant workers’ job satisfaction. This relationship is mediated by network resources and personal power, which serve as their social resources in workplaces. Our study contributes to the positive psychology literature by understanding the role of guanxi in shaping Chinese migrant workers’ job satisfaction. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Negotiating rural-urban transformation and life course fluidity: Rural young people and urban sojourn in contemporary Cambodia

Cambodia's politico-economic change in the 1990s has engendered profound rural-urban transformation and pressure on traditional peasant livelihoods. This article examines how rural young people cope with this societal change by migrating to work in the city, in the process renegotiating the life course and transforming rural life. Given rapid urbanisation and uneven growth, rural-urban labour migration has increasingly become a “normal” experience for young peasants entering working life. What is less clear is how these rural-urban migrant workers negotiate the emerging opportunity structures and mobility in the life course and what it means for rural life. Drawing on biographically oriented interviews with rural young people working in the capital of Phnom Penh, this article analyses their life experiences and meanings of urban sojourning to engage in labour work. This demonstrates how structural change and cultural scripts shape the life courses and perspectives of young peasants but also how they articulate their aspirations and agency in negotiating the changing terms of rural existence through a fluid life course.

Deconstructing Informality: A Response to Vulnerability or an Optimal Choice?

The rapid growth of informal employment in China in recent decades has attracted attention, but to understand its implications, the concept of informality must be deconstructed. We reclassify employment status into three categories: salaried workers who have long-term contracts; the self-employed; and causal workers without long term contracts (working in either the formal or the informal sector). The monthly earnings of the self-employed are much (47%) higher than those casual employees. Self-employment is not necessarily a misfortune and the flexibility it provides may be optimal for some kinds of workers. For example, the self-employed are more likely to be disabled and to have young families. Institutionally, it is still difficult for casual workers and most rural-urban migrant workers to embark on business ownership. Although a large group of rural-urban migrants are employees with longer term contracts, their rural registration (hukou) means they lack the social protection of urban residents. The labour force with rural hukou is more likely to fall into the informal sector and, within that sector, is most likely to be engaged in casual labouring jobs. Policies to support small businesses may be warranted given the detrimental impacts of informality on casual workers. Experimental interventions could be tried along the lines of those used in Peru to provide funds to support entrepreneurial activities by this group to lift themselves out of a poverty trap into more sustainable employment. Skill training, encouragement for innovation, tax credits and reducing institutional constraints on starting up small business should be all considered.

“Brighter the moon over my home village”: Some patterned ways of speaking about home among rural–urban migrant workers in China

ABSTRACTDrawing on a social constructionist approach and Philipsen's theoretical framework of cultural communication, this study examines how rural–urban migrant workers in China construct the meaning of home in their communication about migration. Interviews with migrant workers and participant observation of their everyday conversations reveal that migrant workers frequently evoke a cultural code of home attachment and actively construct a political code of displacement to construe their prolonged liminality between the city and the countryside. Implications for studying the use of culturally specific and politically situated discursive practices to address common challenges of displacement are discussed.

The impacts of migrant workers consumption on energy use and CO2 emissions in China

China has a large number of rural–urban migrant workers in the “semi-urban” states, and their consumption pattern differs from that of rural residents and urban residents. To ensure that society develops sustainably and stably, it is necessary to be concerned about the issues of migrant workers. Based on the data gathered and processed, this paper focuses on the impacts of the consumption of China’s migrant workers on energy use and CO2 emissions using the input–output method. The results show that: the living conditions, health care and allocation of educational resources have not been effectively ensured for migrant workers. The total CO2 emission per capita of migrant workers is relatively low, at two-thirds of the national average and less than one-third that of urban residents. Marginal energy consumption and marginal carbon emission coefficients of migrant workers are slightly lower than the national average level, at 4.9 tce (tonne of standard coal equivalent) per million yuan and 11.6 t CO2 per million yuan lower than those of urban residents. The sectors of food manufacture, and production and distribution of electricity make the greatest contributions to the total carbon emissions of migrant workers, at up to 36.3 %. The citizenization of migrant workers will lead to an increase of 272 million tons of CO2 emissions of primary energy, and the top ten sectors, led by the sectors of electricity production and distribution, and health, will produce more than 60 % of the total increase in carbon emissions. With the acceleration of urbanization and citizenization, the total carbon emissions embodied in the consumption of migrant workers are likely to rise. Further efforts are required to control and reduce the indirect carbon emission, such as by improving energy price mechanism and optimization of the power structure.

Old age insurance participation among rural-urban migrants in China

Background: The Chinese government has been introducing reform policies to improve the existing social security system, including the old age insurance schemes for rural-urban migrants. However, there are still challenges in the current system that hinder migrants who move frequently from participating in old age insurance schemes. Objective: The objectives of this paper are to describe the current coverage of old age insurance amongst migrant workers and examine the associated individual, household, and geographical factors, and to predict the probability of old age insurance participation among rural-urban migrants by province and relevant migrant characteristics. Methods: Data for the analysis are drawn from the 2011 Migrant Dynamics Monitoring Survey in China. The sample consists of 110,005 migrant workers with rural household registration. The analysis considers multinomial logistic regression with type of old age insurance as the outcome variable. Results: Of all rural-urban migrant workers nationwide, 16.4% have participated in the Basic Pension Insurance for urban employees, 9.8% in the New Old Age Pension scheme for rural residents, 3.3% are covered by both schemes, and 70.5% have no coverage with any old age pension scheme. Migrants moving within provinces or from relatively wealthy households are more likely to participate in an old age insurance scheme than those moving across provinces or from relatively poor households. Migrants' occupational status also influences their participation in old age pension schemes. The predicted probability of participation varies across China by province.

Occupational diseases and migrant workers’ compensation claiming in China: an unheeded social risk in asymmetrical employment relationships

ABSTRACTAs a result of rapid industrialisation in China, rural–urban migrant workers are increasingly susceptible to occupational diseases. Based on the concept of risk society, the occupational disease represents a distinctive industrial risk for migrant workers. However, this issue has been little explored from a sociological perspective, and this article aims to fill this gap by exploring migrant workers’ responses to occupational disease compensation. Despite the various laws on occupational diseases, migrant workers are generally unable to receive legal compensation. Instead, they have to negotiate with employers informally for private compensation. In addition to suffering physically from occupational diseases, the poor enforcement of public laws creates new social risks for workers, that is, the disadvantaged encounter unjust treatment, judicial injustice and social exclusion because their de jure entitlement is deprived. As a consequence, the laws aimed at protecting workers against accidents and occupational illnesses fail to reduce the power imbalance between employers and employees.

Land arrangements for rural–urban migrant workers in China: Findings from Jiangsu Province

A massive amount of rural labor in China has migrated to urban areas and transferred to non-agricultural employment. This has resulted in issues regarding how to effectively arrange land that was contracted to them under the household contract responsibility system. Using survey data collected in Jiangsu Province and a multinomial logit model, this article discusses three methods of land arrangement utilized by rural–urban migrant workers (family farming, land transfer and abandonment) and examines the correlates of land arrangement methods. We find that there is a significantly positive relation between family size and the family farming option. The improvements in human capital, higher wages, greater job stability, and a longer commute time between migrants’ cities of employment and their hometown are significantly correlated with land transfer or abandonment. These findings can elucidate China’s land policy in the context of massive rural–urban migration.

Does workplace social capital associate with hazardous drinking among Chinese rural-urban migrant workers?

BackgroundThe present study sought to investigate the associations between workplace social capital and hazardous drinking (HD) among Chinese rural-urban migrant workers (RUMW).MethodsA cross sectional study with a multi-stage stratified sampling procedure was conducted in Shanghai during July 2012 to January 2013. In total, 5,318 RUMWs from 77 workplaces were involved. Work-place social capital was assessed using a validated and psychometrically tested eight-item measure. The Chinese version of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to assess hazardous drinking. Control variables included gender, age, marital status, education level, salary, and current smoking. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to test whether individual- and workplace-level social capital was associated with hazardous drinking.ResultsOverall, the prevalence of HD was 10.6%. After controlling for individual-level socio-demographic and lifestyle variables, compared to workers in the highest quartile of individual-level social capital, the odds of HD for workers in the three bottom quartiles were 1.13(95%CI: 1.04–1.23), 1.17(95%CI: 1.05–1.56) and 1.26(95%CI: 1.13–1.72), respectively. However, contrary to hypothesis, there was no relationship between workplace-level social capital and hazardous drinking.ConclusionsHigher individual-level social capital may protect against HD among Chinese RUMWs. Interventions to build individual social capital among RUMWs in China may help reduce HD among this population.

Bittersweet China: New Discourses of Hardship and Social Organisation

This paper argues that new interpretations of “eating bitterness” ([Formula: see text], chiku) have firmly entered the landscape of China's social organisation. Whereas the bitterness eaten by heroic types in China's revolutionary past was directed towards serving others, now the aim of eating bitterness is self-awareness. Furthermore, bitterness-eating, which once pertained to rural-urban migrant workers as opposed to discourses of urban “quality” ([Formula: see text], suzhi), has now also been taken up by the urban middle classes. A new cultural distinction, therefore, adds dignity to migrant workers while potentially marginalising a wide range of unproductive people, both urban and rural. This distinction ultimately mitigates risk to the Chinese regime because the regime makes sure to reward those who eat bitterness. This paper is based on ethnographic data gathered in Anshan, from the rural areas surrounding Chengdu, and our analysis of a TV show about a peasant boy who becomes a Special Forces soldier.

The impact mechanism of social networks on Chinese rural–urban migrant workers’ behaviour and wages

AbstractChinese domestic rural–urban migrant workers have played a substantial role in economic development since the late 1970s. This article makes an attempt to establish a two-period hiring model interpreting the impact mechanism of social networks on migrant workers’ wages. The findings indicate that the extension of social networks of both firms and workers facilitates a decrease in the information gap between them and improves extra common benefits to both.

Ritual and Social Change: Chinese Rural–Urban Migrant Workers’ Spring Festival Homecoming as Secular Pilgrimage

Drawing upon Clifford Geertz’s interpretive approach to ritual, this study examines the meaning of the annual Spring Festival homecoming performed by rural-to-urban migrant workers in China. Built on participant observation of the ritual and in-depth interviews with 25 migrant workers, I suggest that the homecoming is a secular pilgrimage, the meaning of which emerges around travelers’ communication about suffering on the journey and the pursuit of an ideal “home” through communal traveling. This ritual exemplifies symbolic forms of communication used to cope with and make sense of social changes in modern societies.

Work stress, life stress, and smoking among rural–urban migrant workers in China

BackgroundStimulated by rapid modernization and industrialization, there is massive rural–urban migration in China. The migrants are highly susceptible to smoking and mental health problems. This study examined the association between both perceived work stress and perceived life stress with smoking behavior among this group during the period of migration.MethodsParticipants (n = 1,595) were identified through stratified, multi-stage, systematic sampling. Smoking status separated non-smokers from daily and occasional smokers, and migration history, work stress, and life stress were also measured. Analyses were conducted using the Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. Two models were utilized. The first was the full model that comprised sociodemographic and migration-related characteristics, as well as the two stress variables. In addressing potential overlap between life and work stress, the second model eliminated one of the two stress variables as appropriate.ResultsOverall smoking prevalence was 64.9% (95% CI: 62.4-67.2%). In the regression analysis, under the full model, migrants with high perceived life stress showed a 45% excess likelihood to be current smokers relative to low-stress counterparts (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.05 – 2.06). Applying the second model, which excluded the life stress variable, migrants with high perceived work stress had a 75% excess likelihood to be current smokers relative to opposites (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.26–2.45).ConclusionsRural–urban migrant workers manifested a high prevalence of both life stress and work stress. While both forms of stress showed associations with current smoking, life stress appeared to outweigh the impact of work stress. Our findings could inform the design of tobacco control programs that would target Chinese rural–urban migrant workers as a special population.

Migrant Workers' Integration in Urban China: Experiences in Employment, Social Adaptation, and Self-Identity

The concept of integration is central for understanding the experiences of groups in marginalized positions in contemporary urban societies. Research on integration has primarily focused on international migrants, especially immigrants. Yet internal migrants like rural-urban migrant workers in China also face formidable institutional, economic, cultural, and social barriers in the host society. Informed by integration theory, and drawing on a questionnaire survey of 1,100 migrants conducted in Wuhan, this research effort examines how institutional barriers intersect with economic, social/cultural, and identity integration to explain the experiences of rural migrant workers in Chinese cities. The authors' analysis, based on OLS and logit regressions, shows that the hukou system is a persistent barrier to migrant workers, despite improvement over time of their economic, social/cultural, and identity integration into urban society. Their findings also indicate that human capital is important for migrants' economic and identity integration. Moreover, migrant workers who are socially and culturally adapted, speak the dialect of the host society, and have the financial resources to be self-employed (or buy an apartment in the city) are more likely to develop a sense of belonging in the city than other migrants.

Housing Provision for Rural–Urban Migrant Workers in Chinese Cities: The Roles of the State, Employers and the Market

AbstractIn Chinese cities, about 1.45 million migrant workers stay away from their home villages for longer than six months. The total will reach 230 million if those who work less than six months outside their home villages are also included (National Bureau of Statistics PRC 2010). The scale of migration has put huge pressure on urban housing. Apart from a few local exceptions, little state effort has been dedicated to improve migrant housing for a long time.Existing studies of migrant housing in Chinese cities have focused on the necessity for the state to remove discriminatory policies and offer equal access to urban housing benefits. However, few studies have examined carefully who are the most vulnerable and what are the causes of some of the problems. The authors of this article argue that without proper understanding of the interaction between the state and the private providers, equal access to urban housing benefits may not lead to improved housing conditions for migrant workers. We use three surveys in three cities, Tianjin, Taiyuan and Lanzhou in China to support our argument.

Correlates of quality of life in China rural–urban female migrate workers

Rural-urban female migrant workers living in factories are a special majority group in the city of Shenzhen, China. These female workers came from different provinces of mainland China. The health-related issues and quality of life (QOL) of this migrator have become serious public health and social problems, which have not been well characterized. This study aimed to explore the QOL and related factors of rural-urban female migrant workers living in factories in China. In total, 3,622 rural-urban female migrant workers completed the Health Survey Short Form (SF-36). Sociodemographic characteristics, health status and job satisfaction during the past 6months were also collected. Subjects had an average of 2.53±1.93 (median=2.00, quartile interval=3.00) diseases. The two-week Morbidity Rate was 21.9%, and only 14.0% of the subjects were satisfied with their current job. Compared to Chinese female norms, the participants scored lower in seven concepts domains of SF-36 (role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional and mental health). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that after adjustment for age, education level, work duration and job satisfaction, two-week Morbidity Rate, anemia symptoms and muscular soreness proved to be significant predictors for all the 7 domains (except for physical functioning). Digestive system disease was a significant predictor in 5 out of 7 domains, while urinary system disease and gynecological disease were significant predictors in 4 out of 7 domains. In general, QOL in rural-urban female migrant workers was lower than Chinese female norms. Improving their job satisfaction and controlling job-related disease appears to be critical to improving their QOL.

Nicotine Dependence among Rural-Urban Migrants in China

BackgroundThe complex mechanism of nicotine dependency makes it challenging to evaluate dependence or progress towards dependence. The aim of this study was to estimate nicotine dependence levels and identify determinants of dependence among Chinese rural-urban migrants.MethodsMulti-stage systematic sampling was used to select 4,198 rural-urban migrants aged 18 years or older from three metropolises in China. A structured questionnaire was administered during face-to-face interviews. Nicotine dependence among participants was assessed by means of the six-item Mandarin Chinese Version of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (CFTND). Determinants of dependence were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).ResultsAmong 4,198 participants, estimated current, daily, and occasional smoking rates were 28.3%, 21.2%, and 7.1%, respectively. The CTFND score for the 894 daily smokers was 3.39(SD: 2.32). MANOVA showed that work type, age at first migration, length of migration, and number of cities ever lived were associated with nicotine dependence.ConclusionA migratory lifestyle is associated with nicotine dependence. Results could inform the design of tobacco control programs that target Chinese rural-urban migrant workers as a special at-risk population.

Mental Health Status and Related Characteristics of Chinese Male Rural–Urban Migrant Workers

To explore mental health status and related characteristics in a sample of Chinese male rural-urban migrants. Subjects were 1,595 male rural-urban migrant workers selected though a multi-stage sample survey conducted in two cities (Hangzhou and Guangzhou). Data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Both life and work stressors were examined. Stress and mental health status were measured by the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) and the Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ), respectively. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with probable mental disorders. There are approximately 120 million rural-urban migrants in China. The prevalence of probable mental disorders in the sample population was 24.4% (95% CI: 23.3-25.5%), which was higher than among urban residents (20.2%, 95% CI: 18.8-21.7%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that five characteristics were positively associated with risk for probable mental disorders: originating in the South (OR=2.00; 95% CI=1.02, 4.00), higher life stress (OR=7.63; 95% CI=5.88, 10.00), staying in the city for 5-9months each year (OR=2.56; 95% CI=1.67, 3.85), higher work stress (OR=2.56; 95% CI=1.96, 3.33), and separation from wife (OR=2.43; 95% CI=1.61, 3.57). Employment in machinery and transportation (OR=0.54; 95% CI=0.36, 0.81) and higher self-worth (OR=0.42; 95% CI=0.28, 0.62) were negatively associated. Findings support an urgent need to develop specific policies and programs to address mental health problems among Chinese rural-urban migrants.