Plan focuses on care of 'migrant children'

China will make continuous efforts to protect children who accompany their migrant worker parents to new locations, aiming to provide them with higher-quality social benefits and public services, according to a new action plan released by the government.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs and other departments and agencies, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the All-China Women's Federation, announced the country's first State-level action plan focused on the care and protection of "migrant children". The initiative aims to improve urban-rural integration, enhance modern governance and better safeguard the rights of such children.

The plan targets the establishment of an optimized and effective system for caring for migrant children by 2026, with the goal of achieving a comprehensive care system by 2035. The system will ensure that they have equal access to rights related to their physical and mental health development.

Local authorities have been told to calculate the number of migrant children — defined as juveniles under 16 who move with a parent or guardian to live outside their hometown for over six months — and to monitor their living conditions and health. Civil affairs bureaus will be required to complete the collection of such data by the end of this month and to update it every six months.

The plan mandates that local authorities pay special attention to migrant children facing financial difficulties, disabilities, inadequate guardianship, risks of homelessness, or psychological and behavioral issues. Such children should receive regular visits and close monitoring.

Additionally, the action plan emphasizes equal rights for migrant children in education, healthcare and living support, comparable to those of local children. It also calls for enhanced family care and psychological support to help migrant children adapt to new living environments.

Xu Liyang, an official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, highlighted the challenges faced by migrant children at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

"Migrant children, who live and study outside their hometowns with their parents are more likely to encounter issues in education, healthcare and living support compared to local children," Xu said. "They may also experience weaker guardianship, limited psychological care and fewer opportunities for cultural and recreational activities."

Xu said the ministry and the other departments and agencies involved in the action plan will encourage companies, social organizations, social workers and volunteers to organize diverse activities to help migrant children integrate into their new communities and adjust to urban life.

Local human resources and social security bureaus will be required to optimize employment support for the parents of migrant children. That includes explaining job-hunting policies, introducing them to employers and offering assistance with job training or entrepreneurship.

The government has adopted a "zero tolerance" policy toward any behavior that infringes on the rights of migrant children, especially violence, sexual assault, school bullying and cybercrime.

Li Feng, an official from the Supreme People's Procuratorate, emphasized the need for interagency cooperation to protect children's rights.

"We will urge parents or guardians to fulfill their duties and provide family education guidance whenever we find any behavior that harms children's rights," Li said. "We will also work closely with civil affairs bureaus to support migrant children who live alone without proper guardianship."

Li added that procuratorates will offer judicial aid to migrant children involved in criminal cases and provide financial allowances as needed. For children who have been victims of assault, they will provide living support and psychological assistance.

chengsi@chinadaily.com.cn