Workers Abroad Must Be 'Better Protected'

The government should take steps to better protect Chinese workers abroad, especially because their number could increase to more than 1 million in the next few years, experts said Wednesday.

The experts were responding to reports that 23 Chinese working on a construction site in Saudi Arabia had been deported for protesting against poor pay. They were among the 200 Chinese workers who went on strike to demand better pay.

Many Chinese working overseas have had to weather problems such as kidnappings, attacks, frauds and economic disputes.

About 794,000 Chinese workers were hired to work overseas at end of November 2008 -51,000 more than the previous year - according to Ministry of Commerce figures.

But Lu Jinyong, professor of overseas investment at the University of International Business and Economics, said the actual figure could be much higher.

The official figure comprises workers who have registered with the government before going abroad. It doesn't include workers who have left without registration, he said.

So it's quite likely that the actual figure has crossed 1 million. And that number will continue to rise sharply, thanks to globalization, he said.

Across the world, about 30 million workers earn their livelihood away from their countries or regions. Bangladesh contributes about 2 million and the Philippines more than 1 million to that number.

Source: CRIEnglish