Local governments should not force married female migrant workers of child-bearing age to return to their hometowns for pregnancy tests, according to a circular issued by China's National Population and Family Planning Commission on Wednesday.

The circular, aimed at protecting the rights of migrant workers, stipulated a series of measures to improve the way China's family planning policy is enforced.

Previously, some local family planning commissions required women of child-bearing age to take regular pregnancy tests, and those who have been working outside their hometowns but with their "hukou" - household registration certificates - still only valid at home, were often required to take the tests in their hometowns.

According to official statistics, China has more than 120 million migrant workers, more than 70 percent of whom are aged between 15 and 35.

The cost of traveling home for the tests, in addition to the struggle to secure time off work, has been a problem for many migrant workers.

The newly issued circular said the cities, where the migrant workers currently live, should provide them with tests and keep them informed with a list of phone numbers and addresses of medical service institutions, which can carry out the tests.

The cities are required to input the personal data of married migrant women into a national online database so it is accessible to the family planning commissions in the migrant workers' hometowns.

They municipal authorities were also told to provide free sex education and contraception to migrant couples.

Hotlines at both national and provincial level family planning commissions will be open to receive migrant workers' complaints, the circular said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2007)