China's experimental policy allows migrant workers to bring their children to cities, attracting competition among cities. The challenges faced by left-behind children and the vulnerability and abuse they suffer. The impact of the Spring Festival on migrant workers and their families. The policy reforms providing equal educational opportunities for migrant workers' children and the potential benefits and limitations of the policy.
Chinese cities are implementing policies to allow migrant workers to bring their children with them, addressing the emotional and economic challenges faced by left-behind children.
Left-behind children in China are vulnerable to emotional and physical harm, highlighting the severity of the issue and the need for interventions.
Deep dives
Cities Reforming Policies to Keep Families Together
Cities in China are implementing new policies to allow migrant workers to bring their children with them when they migrate for work. Previously, these workers had to leave their children behind in their home villages. The reform is particularly significant as 67 million Chinese children were left behind in 2020, often in the care of grandparents or at boarding schools. Cities like Ewoo are investing in building schools and hiring teachers to accommodate migrant children. The reform aims to provide better opportunities and a more stable life for left-behind children, addressing the emotional and economic challenges they face.
Challenges Faced by Left-Behind Children
Left-behind children in China are vulnerable to emotional and physical harm. A survey conducted in Beijing revealed that 9 in 10 left-behind children reported emotional abuse, 6 in 10 experienced physical harm, and close to 1 in 3 had experienced sexual abuse. This highlights the severity of the issue and the need for interventions. The reform policy in cities like Ewoo is an attempt to mitigate these challenges and provide a better quality of life for left-behind children.
Implementation Challenges and Limited Scope of Reform
While the reform policy shows promise, there are challenges and limitations to its implementation. The cost of implementing these policies, such as building new schools and covering school fees, poses a financial burden on cities. Poorer areas may struggle to afford such investments. Additionally, the reform is not uniformly implemented across all cities in China. Top-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai are still resistant to change, although demographic shifts and competition among cities may eventually prompt further reforms.
The Changing Perspective on Migrant Workers
The reform policy reflects a shifting perspective on migrant workers in China. Previously seen as a problem, migrant workers are now being recognized as valuable contributors to the economy. Policymakers are realizing the importance of providing support and opportunities for migrant workers and their families. The reform not only aims to address the challenges faced by left-behind children but also acknowledges the potential benefits of nurturing these children from a young age as they contribute to the future workforce and social development.
China’s decades-long economic boom was powered by workers who migrated from the countryside to cities to find jobs. But to do so, many of them had to leave their children behind. Now some cities are vying to attract migrant workers' children.
Zhejiang province is piloting an experimental policy which should make it easier for migrants to bring their children with them to cities and send them to school. David Rennie, our Beijing bureau chief, and Alice Su, our senior China correspondent, examine Yiwu, a city in Zhejiang that has enacted this policy.
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