At least 10 million migrant workers will be absorbed into trade unions by the end of 2007, said an official with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) on Sunday.

The enrollment procedure will be further simplified and incentive mechanisms perfected in a bid to have all migrant workers registered in trade unions within three years, said ACFTU Vice Chairman Xu Deming on the sidelines of the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top advisory body.

Trade unions should be set up in migrant workers' hometowns to facilitate their enrollment, said Xu, also a CPPCC National Committee member. They can transfer their membership to the unions in the companies where they work to ensure they can enjoy both preferential treatment as members of urban trade unions and help from the unions in their hometowns, he added.

Currently, China has over 41 million migrant worker union members, 8.5 million of whom were registered last year, according to Xu.

China's large population of migrant workers, estimated at about 200 million with 120 million working in cities and the rest in towns, is attracting more social attention as the country, in a drive to build a harmonious society, endeavors to improve the living conditions and social status of the once marginalized group.

Since 2005, 41 migrant workers have been honored for representing the "National Labor Model."

Migrant workers are also expected to have seats in the approximately 3,000-member National People's Congress, China's top legislature, if a draft resolution on lawmaker election for next year is passed by the NPC's annual full session when it ends on March 16.

The draft resolution stipulates that provinces and municipalities with a large population of migrant workers should have an NPC deputy quota for them.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2007)