Beijing's Labor Union is trying to attract more migrant workers into its fold, to better protect their legal rights.

A senior official at the union says those who have come to Beijing to do casual labor can benefit from protected incomes, safe working conditions and skills training.

Many of China's surplus rural workers come to Beijing every year. At the end of 2004, there were 111,000 rural laborers registered in branches of the Beijing Union.

(CRI January 10, 2005)