Beijing Mandates Improved Conditions for Migrant Construction Workers

Earlier this month, the Beijing municipal government issued new labor standards for construction companies employing migrant workers, approximately two million of whom are toiling to remake the city in advance of the 2008 Olympic Games. The move comes just weeks after Human Rights Watch issued a report documenting the myriad abuses against migrant construction workers in China, including unpaid wages, dangerous working conditions, and deplorable living situations. Apparently responding to a number of the issues raised in our report, the government now mandates improved dormitory facilities, monthly transfers of workers' wages, and the provision of adequate safety equipment for migrant workers in Beijing. While the new policies fall short of allowing the formation of independent trade unions and the prosecution of abusive employers, they represent important progress. Leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games, Human Rights Watch continues to challenge China's appalling human rights record.