China now has 150 million migrant workers - report

BEIJING, Oct 29 (Reuters) Chinese officials estimate the migrant population has reached 150 million, doubling over the past decade as poor rural residents flocked to cities to take part in the country's economic boom, state media said today.

The figure for migrants now amounts to 11.5 per cent of the population of China, the world's most populous nation, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Wang Guoqiang, deputy director of the State Population and Family Planning Commission.

More than 80 per cent are rural migrants seeking jobs and would make up the majority of the floating population for a long time, Wang told a national conference in Shanghai.

In Shanghai one third of the city's population of 5.81 million people were from other places, Xinhua cited statistics from last year as showing.

Farmers from vast rural China have flocked into cities since market reforms started in 1980s, contributing to the country's economic boom by staffing construction sites, factories and restaurants.

But they have met barriers in getting social benefits such as health care and education for their children.

REUTERS SP VV1102