News » China » Sense of isolation remains for migrant workers

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• Sense of isolation remains for migrant workers
• China's space station to welcome int'l scientists
• Eight missing in SW China colliery accident
• Guangzhou limiting non-local vehicles to ease congestion
• Carbon monoxide poisoning kills 11 in coal mine
• Heavy tax to dampen speculation
• Zeng Peiyan calls for cross-Strait cooperation amid new challenges
• Commentary: New glories for China in striving for nat'l renewal
• Liu Yunshan urges "learning from Lei Feng"
• Jia convenes last CPPCC chairmen meeting
• CPC Central Committee maintains frugality campaign
• Guangdong comes out top in competitiveness ranking
• Govt plans 20% to curb property prices
• Shanghai upgrades air quality index reporting system
• Beijing launches stricter auto emissions standard
• Provincial-level organ donation enters into force
• China to establish emergency medical funds
• Xi advocates study, practice among CPC members
• European company to build ship demolition plant in S China
• Mekong River murderers executed by lethal injection

Sense of isolation remains for migrant workers Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:04 PM PST Migrant workers are happier and more satisfied with their life than last year, but they still constantly feel lonely, isolated and looked down upon, according to a survey jointly released by Renmin University of China and job.gzh.com, a job hunting website for migrant workers. The survey polled 2,011 migrant workers in 20 cities among the website's 7.2 million registered users. Migrant workers visit a job fair in Beijing on Wednesday. [Cheng Gong / For China Daily] Compared with the survey's results last year, migrant workers are happier with their living standards, but the level of interpersonal relationships, social participation and status has dropped, the report stated. Yue Shuangbao, 46, from Gansu province, has been working as a truck driver in Yulin, Shaanxi province for so long he cannot even remember the exact number of years. "Life is really hard if I don't work away from home," Yue said. His whole family depends on his income, which is 5,500 yuan ($880) per month, 500 yuan higher than last year. "We can see that migrant workers' wages are growing, that's why they feel happier about life," said Hu Ping, a professor of psychology at Renmin University of China. "However, the social participation situation is not getting any better." The report said more than half of the polled migrant workers constantly have negative feelings, including loneliness, isolation, and worthlessness. Yue said he was very homesick, but because visiting friends and family costs money, he remains alone. "I miss my family all the time, but what can I do? My daughter and son are still in school, my parents are old and our farm is useless. At least I earn more than if I stayed at home," he said. "I have to do this to support my family." With only a primary school diploma, his job options are very limited. "I only hope my children can have a better education and live a happier life," he said. The survey reflected Yue's hopes for his family, stating that those who receive a higher education are generally happier. "We found that those who have a more active social life are generally happier than those who don't," said Li Jiuxin, CEO of job.gzh.com. Around 30 percent of those polled said they would resort to an online network for help, the report also said.

China's space station to welcome int'l scientists Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:04 PM PST BEIJING - China's planned space station will offer scientists from around the world opportunities for research and experimentation, the lead designer of China's manned space program told Xinhua on Friday. Zhou Jianping said the space station, which is expected to be built by 2020 and is aimed at engaging in space exploration and research on space resources, will include three capsules. It will be capable of docking one freight spacecraft and two manned spacecraft, and the entire system will weigh over 90 tonnes. The space station has been designed to accommodate three Chinese astronauts who will work in half-year shifts during its operation period, but new capsules can be added as needed for scientific research, Zhou said. "In light of the current demand and cost factors, we are not going to  build an international space station, but one of moderate size that meets the demands of scientific experimentation and technological testing, and its flexibility in adding capsules will enable us to adapt to the demands of the most state-of-the-art technological research," Zhou said.

Eight missing in SW China colliery accident Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:04 PM PST KUNMING - Eight miners were missing in a colliery accident on Friday in Southwest China's Yunnan province, local government said. The accident happened around 2 p.m. at the Liangshuigou Coal Mine in Muzhuo Township of Zhenxiong County,  said a spokesman with the county government. Rescuers on the scene suspected a gas blast in the mine. Operation of the coal mine has not resumed after the Spring Festival, but the mine manager organized 20 miners to work in the mine without any safety check. Twelve of them had been lifted out of the mine before the accident happened. The manager of the colliery has been in police custody, and rescue and investigation work is under way.

Guangzhou limiting non-local vehicles to ease congestion Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:04 PM PST GUANGZHOU - The southern Chinese megacity of Guangzhou is set to put restrictions on vehicles registered outside of the city in a bid to ease congestion. An official with the city's traffic committee said at a press conference on Friday that a preliminary program has been drafted to keep a certain number of out-of-town vehicles off the city's roads. The program will be released to the public for comments before being implemented, said the official. Details of the program were not disclosed at the press conference. Traffic jams in Guangzhou have worsened recently. Average rush hour speeds have slowed to 20 km per hour, and are expected to become even slower. Increasing motor vehicle emissions have also worsened the city's air quality. Last year, the city announced that it would allocate the city's annual 120,000 new car registration quota through a dual auction-lottery model, forcing many residents to register their vehicles elsewhere.

Carbon monoxide poisoning kills 11 in coal mine Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:04 PM PST SHIJIAZHUANG - Carbon monoxide poisoning killed 11 people, after an air compressor caught fire in a coal mine in North China's Hebei province, local authorities said Friday. Two miners have been missing since the accident occurred at 8 p.m. on Thursday in a coal mine in Huailai County of Zhangjiakou City, said a spokesman with the city government. Thirteen miners were working underground at the time of the accident. The cause of the accident is under investigation. The mine belongs to Zhangkuang Group, a subsidiary of Jizhong Energy Group Co., Ltd. Zhao Heping, general manager of Zhangkuang Group, has been removed from his post. Further punishments will be meted out at the conclusion of the investigation, said the spokesman.

Heavy tax to dampen speculation Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:04 PM PST 20% levy on capital gains by sellers to rein in housing prices In one of its sternest measures to hold back the rise of housing prices in major cities, the State Council, or China's cabinet, on Friday ordered that a 20 percent individual income tax be levied on capital gains by home sellers. This is the latest regulation following the cabinet's meeting on Feb 20 about the urban residential housing market. Currently, only a 1 percent individual income tax is levied on the sale price, much lower than the 20 percent tax on the difference between the sale and purchase prices. "The measure will definitely lead to a sharp drop in property transactions and change people's expectations," said Ji Gang, a senior director in the investment department of real estate service provider Savills Property Services (Beijing) Co. Meanwhile, for cities that experience soaring property prices, the branch of the central bank could further hike down payments and mortgage rates for second-home buyers, in line with the price target set by local government, the statement said. Earlier media reports suggested that down payments for second-home purchasers were likely to be increased to 70 percent from 60 percent, and the mortgage rate could be hiked to 1.3 times the benchmark interest rate instead of the current 1.1 times. "Tightening financing is a shortcut to curb the price hike, as quite a number of bank loans in January go to property developers and individual buyers," said Ji. Time is still needed to see if home prices will drop after those new measures, Ji added. "If most of the potential sellers decide to give up their plans to sell properties but demand remains very strong, the price could still hardly fall," said Ji, citing a similar situation that occurred in Hong Kong years ago. For Zhu Zhongyi, vice-president of the China Real Estate Association, first-home buyers will be the driving force for the property market after all the new measures are in place. Potential home buyers and sellers are also waiting for the coming two sessions of the nation's legislature and advisory body to see if more detailed real estate policies will be launched. "Some of our clients decided to put their homes up for sale after the annual session of the National People's Congress in early March, as they are waiting for a clear picture and will decide on the sales price afterwards," said Hou Zhanzi, a sales agent with HomeLink, a Beijing-based real estate agent company. Property prices in China's major cities saw a ninth consecutive monthly increase in February, with more reporting a price hike, statistics from a real estate research institute showed on Friday. According to China Index Academy, a Beijing-based real estate research institute, the average price of new homes in 100 monitored cities was 9,893 yuan ($1,587) per square meter during the month, up 0.83 percent from January. The month-on-month growth rate, according to the academy's figure, is down 0.17 percentage points from the previous month. However, on a yearly basis, the growth was 2.48 percent in February, compared with a 1.2 percent year-on-year increase in January. It was the third time for 100 cities to see a price increase on a yearly basis, with the growth rate further accelerating. Meanwhile, 10 more cities reported a price hike in February than the previous month, while the number of cities experiencing a price drop fell by nine from January. The average home price in the key cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, stood at 16,596 yuan per sq m, an increase of 1.09 percent from the previous month and up 4.32 percent over the same period last year. The continuous rising home price has triggered worries of mounting risks in the country's property market. "We see continuing risks in China's property market and believe the country's newly elected leadership will be proactive in implementing existing policies to control the property market and seek to introduce new cooling measures if upside risks intensify in certain cities or regions," said Shen Lan, an economist at Standard Chartered Bank But the government may tolerate a pickup in the sector as long as price increases remain in line with underlying fundamentals, according to Shen. "That said, continuing policy pressure should ensure that any upward pressure on home prices is kept in check," she added. Meanwhile, the government will also put more land on the market to boost the supply, according to the statement. Property developers, fueled by improved cash flow, are still quite optimistic about the market and are strengthening their competition for more land parcels. In Beijing, a total of 13 land parcels valued at 10.7 billion yuan ($1.7 billion) were sold on Thursday, with the premium price dropping compared with the end of 2012, industry statistics showed. There were 33 real estate enterprises competing for the 13 land parcels, and the highest price premium was 50 percent, lower than the record 400 percent premium recorded at the end of 2012. According to Zhang Dawei, head of Centaline's research department, as the government has launched more land parcels in the market, the competition was not as fierce compared with the end of the year, effectively curbing the price increase.

Zeng Peiyan calls for cross-Strait cooperation amid new challenges Posted: 01 Mar 2013 08:28 AM PST The chairman of the mainland-based China Center for International Economic Exchanges on Friday called for enhanced cross-Strait cooperation to cope with emerging challenges after the global financial crisis.

Commentary: New glories for China in striving for nat'l renewal Posted: 01 Mar 2013 08:26 AM PST China's upcoming "two sessions" will hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and adhere to the Scientific Outlook on Development to score new glories in realizing the "Chinese dream."

Liu Yunshan urges "learning from Lei Feng" Posted: 01 Mar 2013 08:23 AM PST China's ideological chief Liu Yunshan on Friday said "learning from Lei Feng," the nation's most famous Good Samaritan, can help shape the socialist core value system.

Jia convenes last CPPCC chairmen meeting Posted: 01 Mar 2013 04:29 AM PST The 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Friday convened its last meeting of the chairman and vice chairpersons to discuss the preparation for the first annual session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee.

CPC Central Committee maintains frugality campaign Posted: 01 Mar 2013 06:21 AM PST BEIJING - With the annual "two sessions" approaching, China's new leadership has vowed to fight corruption and stick to an ongoing frugality campaign. The annual sessions of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, and the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, will open on March 3 and 5, respectively. Some observers believe the implementation of the frugality and anti-corruption campaigns will be hot topics at the upcoming sessions. Over the past three months, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's call for frugality among officials has won wide welcome and support from the people, though some overseas media have shown concern over how long the campaign might last. As a result of the frugality movement, gala events and extravagant banquets paid for with public funds were effectively curbed during this year's Spring Festival, which ended on Feb 15. However, after the week-long holiday ended, Xinhua reporters noticed that acts of extravagance and corruption -- including banquets paid for with public funds and luxury gift-giving among cadres -- continued covertly, with such activities being moved to places like private residences or government canteens. The upcoming meetings serve as an important channel for the CPC Central Committee to hear what the public has to say about the implementation of the campaigns, via NPC and CPPCC participants. Zhou Hanmin, vice chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, wrote in a draft proposal that turning the campaigns into established practice is a good remedy for extravagance. For the CPC to firmly stick to carrying out its frugality drive in the long run, it is essential to start building the drive into an institution, said NPC deputy Yan Chengzhong, director of the Institute of Economic Development and Cooperation at the Shanghai-based Donghua University. At the "two sessions," some participants plan to propose improving the budgeting, auditing, evaluation, accountability and supervision systems regarding official receptions and events. The integration of rigid institutional restrictions, strict implementation, powerful media monitoring and a strict disciplinary punishment mechanism can better ensure the effectiveness of the frugality campaign, Zhou said. During the upcoming sessions, China's new leadership will also collect information and experiences from foreign countries and keep this in mind while carrying out policy-making work. Liu Jingbei, a professor with the China Executive Leadership Academy in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, explained that some developed countries curtail corruption among government officials and employees by enacting relevant laws such as anti-graft laws and anti-bribery laws. Analysts say the anti-extravagance movement is a starting point for a series of campaigns from the new leadership, and more effective measures will be adopted to improve the conduct of the Party, the government and society. The CPC Central Committee has promised to implement the frugality campaign, as the move has enjoyed wide public support, Liu said, adding that this is a promise that should be kept for the long haul.

Guangdong comes out top in competitiveness ranking Posted: 01 Mar 2013 06:21 AM PST South China's Guangdong province has the strongest economic competitiveness out of all 31 mainland provincial-level regions, followed by Jiangsu province, Shanghai and Beijing, a think tank report said on Thursday. Chongqing, the only inland municipality, now ranks 15th on the list, while Jiangxi province dropped five places, according to the Report on the Overall Competitiveness of China's Provincial Economy released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Instead of the GDP of each provincial-level region, the contribution of high-tech to industrial added value and comprehensive energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP were given great weight among all 210 indicators.

Govt plans 20% to curb property prices Posted: 01 Mar 2013 06:21 AM PST China will levy a 20 percent income tax on citizens when they sell their homes, the State Council, or the central government, said in a statement on Friday. The move - the latest attempt to cool down the property market - follows a cabinet meeting on Feb 20 that vowed to keep fast-growing property prices in check. In cities with soaring property prices, central bank branches will be able to further hike down payments and mortgage rates for second-home buyers, in line with the price targets set by local governments, the statement said.

Shanghai upgrades air quality index reporting system Posted: 01 Mar 2013 06:21 AM PST Shanghai's air quality index reporting system was due to be updated on Friday by the city's Environmental Protection Bureau to provide real-time information to the public. The previous reporting system, implemented in November, was criticised for failing to provide real-time air quality index readings when air quality changed suddenly. Under the new system, if there is a sudden air quality change, a more specific description will be provided, the bureau said. For instance, readings of real-time PM 2.5 - hazardous particulate matter of 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less that can penetrate the lungs - will be provided in real time, along with protection suggestions. When people log on to the new air quality monitoring system, they will find a real-time photo taken from the Bund, changes in real-time concentration of air pollutants and changes to the air quality index over 24 hours and seven days. The changes will appear on the website of the Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center, the micro blog of the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau and applications installed on mobile devices.

Beijing launches stricter auto emissions standard Posted: 01 Mar 2013 06:21 AM PST Beijing on Friday introduced stricter vehicle emissions regulations, which the environmental authority expects will reduce auto pollution by 40 percent. The fifth phrase of emissions standards for automobiles, designed to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, will improve air quality in the capital, the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau said. Light vehicles running on gasoline that fail the strictest emissions standard will be barred from sale or registration in the city, said Li Kunsheng, director of the bureau's department of motor vehicles. The bureau will carry out a random examination of vehicles to ensure implementation.

Provincial-level organ donation enters into force Posted: 01 Mar 2013 06:21 AM PST China's first provincial-level regulation governing human organ donations entered into force in Tianjin on Friday. The regulation, which was passed at a lawmakers' meeting in Tianjin on Dec 24, stipulates the government body in charge of registering potential donors, the range of organs that can be donated, donation procedures and measures to protect donor's rights, according to Gao Shaolin, an official with the Standing Committee of the Tianjin Municipal People's Congress. The release of the regulation will standardize the process of organ donation and promote the public's awareness of the humanitarian act, said Wang Hesheng, director of the city's health bureau, adding it will also place donations under tighter supervision and public scrutiny.

China to establish emergency medical funds Posted: 01 Mar 2013 05:17 AM PST China will set up funds to subsidize emergency medical fees incurred by the poor and patients whose identities are unclear, the State Council said in a guideline issued Friday.

Xi advocates study, practice among CPC members Posted: 01 Mar 2013 03:20 AM PST Communist Party of China (CPC) leader Xi Jinping on Friday called on Party members to enhance their ability to handle new problems and challenges through study and practice.

European company to build ship demolition plant in S China Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:20 AM PST GUANGZHOU, March 1 (Xinhua) -- A leading European environmental service A leading European environmental service provider will build a ship demolition facility in south China's Guangdong Province, a local publicity official said Friday.

Mekong River murderers executed by lethal injection Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:20 AM PST Myanmar drug lord Naw Kham, who was convicted of murdering 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River in 2011, was executed on Friday afternoon, a local court in southwest China said.

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