国内英语新闻:Chinese farmers accumulate points for hukou

"The accumulating points system will benefit a large number of farmers in the province," she said.

According to the Suggestions on Points Accumulation System for Farmer-turned Workers to Become Urban Residents, which will come into effect later this month, migrant workers who have more education and higher technical skills will have advantages in being granted the urban household registration.

Farmer-turned workers who graduated from junior high school will have only five points while university graduates will have 80 points.

Those who violate the country's family-planning policy, or have criminal records, will have their points deducted, according to the suggestions.

The point system is expected to attract more migrant workers to settle down in the province's small- and medium-sized cities and towns, Lin said.

Zeng Xinghui, a migrant worker from Southeast China's Fujian province, said the new accumulating points system will benefit people like him in the province, which has more than 31 million migrant workers.

"The system, which gives many farmer-turned workers new hope to become urban residents, would certainly help encourage them to work hard and contribute to the construction of a harmonious society," he said.