Wang Pei'an, vice-minister of China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission who spoke at forum of urbanization and the integration of migrant workers, in Shanghai on July 9, said that the ability of laborers to move around for their work provides much needed support for a rapidly growing economy.

Wang went on to quote statistics that put China’s migrant population at 310 million, by 2030, compared to 254 million, in 2014, and its level of urbanization at 70 percent, with about 230 million people move to cities from villages.

Wang also pointed out that the growth in the number of migrant people will put pressure on public services and governance, since migrants often have to deal with instability in the family and a lack of parental guidance and elderly care. And that some of the less-educated and low-income groups have a high risk of unemployment, meaning double-trouble in general life and in getting integrated with society.

He called for departments to improve the management of basic public health and family planning service and to make them more equal to better help migrant families manage themselves. He suggested that statistics gathering on migrants be improved so that they have more access to more conveniences.