Rural Urban Migration and Policy Intervention in China

This book examines rural-urban migration policies in China, and considers how Chinese workers cope with migration events in the context of these policies. It explores the contribution of migrant workers to the Chinese economy, the impact of changes within the 'hukou' system (household registration) and the impact of recent migration policies promoting  rural-urban migration and targeting key events during migrant workers' migration trajectories - job-seeking, wage exploitation, work injuries and illness - namely the corresponding 'Skills Training Program for Migrant Workers',  the 'Circular on Managing Wage Payment to Migrant Workers',  the 'Circular on Migrant Workers Participating in Work-Related Injury Insurance', and the 'New Rural Medical Cooperative Scheme' (Health Insurance). Through in-depth interviews, it examines how when facing such challenges, migrant workers choose to either make a claim under existing policies, or use other coping strategies. The book notably proposes a typology of 'coping' which includes a variety of administrative coping, political coping and social coping, and considers how workers in China harness the power of civil groups and social networks.

Li Sun is a lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. Her primary research interest is China's urbanization, including rural-urban migration, social inequality, social protection, land and housing issues, and public policies. Dr Sun also serves as a consultant to the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, as well as various government offices in China, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.