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to train new rural migrants in the sending areas, especially those whichhave been identified as poor. Part of the national plan, this training programis designed to improve migrant workers’ skills and teach them knowledgerequired for urban life. The goal is to make it easier for rural laborers tofind non-agricultural jobs and for migrant workers to improve their lifein cities. Another important policy designed to reduce poverty amongmigrant workers is social security for migrant workers. The 5th session of16th CPC Central Committee, which was held in October 2005, pointedout in its report that during the 11th Five-year Plan the government wouldmake efforts to deal with the issue of social security for migrant workers incities. A recent document issued by the State Council specifically focusingon migrant workers reiterated the significance of this issue.However, it is important to point out that the number of migrant workers hasnow reached almost 120 million, and in this context government investmentin addressing these problems is actually very small when considered ona per capita basis. For example, only 35 million, or about 10 percent ofalmost 300 million “redundant” rural laborers, 16 can directly benefit fromthe Sunshine Project, and each migrant worker can receive a subsidy ofonly around 150 yuan (about 20 USD), less than a quarter of most migrantworkers’ monthly income. Furthermore, few concrete policies or measureshave so far been taken to provide comprehensive social security for migrantworkers. Premier Wen’s Government Work Report, released in March2006, stressed that a specific social security system for migrant workersshould be seriously considered but it is clear that there is a long way to goin solving migrant workers’ problems and reducing their poverty.Fortunately, however, many initiatives have been taken at the local level (ofthe county, prefecture, or province) to address specific problems regardingmigrant workers. Some of these have significant policy implications andcan be taken into consideration in future policymaking.Local InitiativesIn the course of their research and fieldwork, the authors have identifiedtwo kinds of local initiative, network building and integrated rural–urbandevelopment, which can effectively contribute to poverty reduction amongmigrant workers, and increase the potential for remittances to play a positiverole. These two initiatives are found in the pilot sites of the project of“Together With Migrants,” jointly organized by the CASS and the Beijing23516This refers to rural laborers who must be transferred to non-agricultural sectors, but not includingthose employed in Town and Village Enterprises (about 100 million).