Migrant Workers' Integration in Urban China: Experiences in Employment, Social Adaptation, and Self-Identity

The spatio-temporal patterns of urban–rural development transformation in China since 1990

“…Even though China has achieved fast economic growth and unique urbanization road, it has exacerbated urbanerural dual economy, a rural brain-drain and the loss of rural collective land and promoted overdependence on land finance as well (Wang, Hui, Choguill, & Jia, 2015). In addition, the rural migrant workers face formidable institutional, economic, cultural and social barriers in the urban society that renders them second class citizens (Wang & Fan, 2012;Wong, Li, & Song, 2007). The third is visible interregional inequality.…”

“…We also witnessed a large volume of migration from rural to urban areas in China during the transition period. The total number of migrants was estimated to be 230 million in 2011, 80% of whom were from rural background (Wang & Fan, 2012). According to China's National New urbanization plan, China's urbanization ratio will reach 60% by 2020, indicating that there will be more than 13.6 million people migrating from rural areas to urban areas every year.…”

Community-based approaches to social exclusion among rural-to-urban migrants in China

“…Except in the case of domestic workers residing with urban resident employers, these living situations in effect physically separate rural-to-urban migrants from local urban residents into povertyconcentrated enclaves; these are characterized by housing that is densely populated, lacking in sanitary conditions, and lacking in basic safety. Alongside this spatial segregation, rural-to-urban migrants are socially excluded from urban resident social networks and involvement, inhibiting their ability to adapt to and participate in urban community life, as well as contributing to a stratified social structure (He et al 2010a;Zhan 2011;Wang and Fan 2012).…”

“…Hukou-based social exclusion One of the most widely recognized sources of the social exclusion of rural-to-urban migrants is the household registration hukou system (Li 2004;Liu, He, and Fulong 2008;Huang, Guo, and Tang 2010;Li and Chui 2011;Xu, Guan, and Yao 2011;Zhan 2011;Wang and Fan 2012;Zhang, Zhu, and Nyland 2014). The Chinese household registration hukou system was established in the early 1950s in order to attain more uniform population distribution by enforcing restrictions on labour mobility through the assignment of an 'agricultural' or 'non-agricultural' status to Chinese households and individuals.…”

“…In 2012, more than 260 million people moved from rural regions to urbanized villages and cities in search of increased employment opportunities, with more than 163 million of these migrant workers leaving their hometowns for other provinces (National Bureau of Statistics of China 2013). Rural-tourban migrants frequently experience severe economic, political and social marginalization within their new host neighbourhoods, and thus represent one of the most socially excluded groups within China's urban communities (Li 2004;He et al 2008;Li and Chui 2011;Wang and Fan 2012). In accordance with the promotion of social harmony and social equality as key principles shaping its developmental goals, the Chinese government has implemented a number of national level policies addressing the social exclusion of rural-to-urban migrants (Li and Chui 2011).…”