Migrants to Chinese cities will be able to apply for residence permits giving them access to local public services from Jan. 1, the government announced on Saturday, in a major shakeup of the "hukou" residency system.
In China, services like healthcare and schooling are generally only available to citizens in the place where they are seen as being permanently resident. In most cases, this is their family's hometown, leaving the country's hundreds of millions of migrant laborers unable to enjoy public services for most of the year.
Hukou reform has long been expected, but a document signed off by Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday gave the precise details for the first time.
Applicants must have lived in the city in which they are applying for at least six months and either have a stable job, stable place to live or be studying at a school.
They will have to provide an employment contract, an official certificate proving involvement in a startup business, a tenancy or home purchase contract, or documents proving study at a school.
Those granted the new residence permits will be allowed access to six 'basic public services,' including nine years of compulsory education for children, employment services and basic healthcare.
Under the rules published on Saturday, all cities must follow the new policy but can "enact their own regulations according to local conditions."
CITIES HOME TO SOCIAL INJUSTICE NO LONGER
"The rules are worked out to make urbanization develop along healthier lines, extend basic public services to all residents, guarantee people's legitimate rights and interests and promote social justice and equity," according to the document.
Local governments usually issue a temporary residence permit to newcomers, without which they would have problems in landing a job or sending their children to schools.
Previous rules allowed police to warn, fine and even physically remove from the city migrants who have overstayed their permit, which must be updated annually.
In 2003, a young laborer without a residence permit in south China's Guangdong Province was detained by police and was beaten to death by fellow inmates.
Such cases have encouraged China to reform the system. Cities including Shenzhen and Shanghai already have their own versions of the regulations now being introduced nationwide.
