Comment
Resident's benefits worth more than a Beijing hukou
By Fang Xiaojing (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-15 09:57
 |
Large Medium Small |
A total of 53 laborers in Beijing have recently won the title of "Outstanding Beijing Peasant Worker".
Of these people, those who are a National Model Worker or have senior technical qualifications will be allowed to become permanent residents in the city.
| ||||
Besides change of status, people are probably also interested in the benefits and welfare that a hukou represents, such as the savings made possible from their children's education and medical care.
But the new residents will also face costs, such as the pain of losing their land.
After getting an urban hukou, they'll have to relocate from their village.
This means they'll lose their rights of land distribution and will have to make a living in a city entirely dependent on their skills. They can no longer rely on their ancestral home and land as financial guarantee for their whole lives.
Just because they have a Beijing hukou doesn't mean they will be able to live comfortably in the city.
Due to high housing prices in the city, it is difficult to buy a small home even with advanced qualifications. Many laborers can only afford to live with others in a basement, so some might find it useless.
In addition, cultural differences and regional discrimination will not go away simply because they have a Beijing hukou.
You can also imagine that the majority of laborers would not dream of having a hukou, but they certainly long to enjoy some benefits and welfare that a hukou provides.
If there was no substance, a hukou for a laborer would only have superficial value.
If we really want laborers to become part of the city, they need to be given equal treatment and genuine respect.
Hukou will lose their importance if this happens.
(Excerpts of a commentary that appeared in Beijing Times on Dec 14.)
