Migrants who become "national model workers" should be able to get a Beijing hukou as a reward, according to the Beijing Municipal Federation of Trade Unions.

A hukou, or permanent residency permit, would give people who hail from other parts of China the right to relocate permanently to the capital and get equal treatment for such things as schooling.

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The union said the attainment of a permanent residency permit for the capital would make life easier for the partners and children of the model workers.

Several of the capital's migrant workers have been honored as model workers when the lists have been produced every five years. The number of migrants honored each time has varied. It has been as high as 74. Last year, 21 were named.

An official from the federation, who refused to be identified, said the idea is in the early stages. The concept will next be explored by government departments, including departments responsible for the police and human resources.

According to a State policy released in 2006, migrant workers who are national model workers will have priority among other migrants wanting to settle down in big cities. Others getting priority will be advanced workers and senior technicians.

By the end of 2010, 17 migrant workers had been granted a Beijing hukou because they met at least one of the conditions. About 13,000 people in the capital have been declared model workers.

The Beijing Municipal Federation of Trade Unions has also said qualified model workers would have priority to subsidized housing.

And if model workers have temporary difficulties, such as illness or if they need to pay for such things as their children's education, trade unions will help them. The federation also requires the trade unions that the model workers are members of to give families a pension when the workers die.

Han Zirong, deputy chairman of the Beijing Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, said health care is another important issue for model workers because about 70 percent of them have already retired and nearly 5,000 are older than 70. Han said medical treatment is also a part of the federation's plans.

Model workers are also entitled to enjoy a recuperation period once every two years and a body examination once a year.