WITH the Lunar New Year less than two months away, China's major cities are stepping up measures to tackle the mass flow of at least 10 million drifters seeking better fortunes.
Authorities in Guangdong have formulated a draft provisional law to tighten supervision over migrant workers.
Under the draft law, companies run by overseas investors, including Hong Kong and Macau, will also be subject to more stringent requirements on labour.
Officials in the southern province said the floating workforce had contributed to the area's economic success but had brought social problems.
According to yesterday's Ta Kung Pao , it was found that 80 per cent of people arrested for crimes in the Pearl River Delta and coastal regions this year came from other provinces.
In a despatch yesterday, Xinhua (the New China News Agency) said it was estimated that surplus migrant workers would total more than 10 million during the spring festival.
