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Migrant Workers in China - FACT SHEET
Preventable Deaths in China
► Without interventions, by 2033 an estimated 83 million Chinese will die from smoking, tuberculosis and the inhalation of solid-fuel fumes
― 48.6 million men
― 34.4 million women
► This is equivalent to killing the entire population of Germany – man, woman, child.
► Most of these deaths will be among China’s impoverished, disempowered and highly vulnerable migrant workers (see below)
► Currently, smoking, solid fuel use and tuberculosis account for 21% of all deaths in China (2 million in 2002); smoking alone kills at least 1 million Chinese each year.
► There are more than 350 million smokers in China (more than entire population of the USA); more than half of all men smoke
► More than 70% of all households use solid fuels for heating and cooking
► If untreated, each person with active TB will infect 10-15 people per year
► Smoking and indoor pollution are independent risk factors for tuberculosis
► The death or serious illness of an migrant worker thrusts the family into even greater poverty – children and women bear the brunt
► These 83 million deaths can be prevented with informed health decisions and access to and use of affordable intervention tools
► Most migrant workers lack the education to make informed health decisions; most cannot afford or do not have access to necessary disease intervention tools
Migrant Workers in China
► 131 million migrant workers as of 2006 (currently estimated at 140 million)
― 36% are female (over 47 million – double the population of Australia)
― 50% are aged between 16 and 30
► 80% of employees in construction industry are migrant workers; 68% in manufacturing industry
► Only 10% have education beyond middle school
► Average monthly income was 780 Yuan in 2004 (half the national urban average)
► Work 11 hours a day, 26 days a month on average
► Only 10% have medical insurance
► Coal mining, construction and manufacturing are among the highest risk jobs
► About 60% are exposed to unsafe levels of toxic dust; 28% have respiratory problems
► Only 20% of migrant workers consult qualified doctors when ill; 13% do nothing
► In Shanghai, migrant workers occupied on average less than 7 square meters per person
► 17% have no running water (22 million)
► 61% have no toilets (80 million)
► These conditions are a recipe for a massive health and social disaster