Key facts
- China is reforming its household registration (hukou) system.
- The hukou system ties access to social services to registered residence, creating a migrant underclass.
- Reforms aim to ease restrictions for migrant workers, improving access to public services.
- The changes are intended to stimulate domestic consumption and economic growth.
China is undertaking significant reforms to its household registration (hukou) system, a decades-old policy that has contributed to a domestic migrant underclass. The hukou system ties access to social services like education, healthcare, and housing to one's registered place of residence, making it difficult for millions of internal migrants to access these essential services in the cities where they work.
The reforms are expected to ease restrictions on migrant workers, granting them greater freedom of movement and improved access to public services. This move is seen as a strategic effort by Beijing to address social inequalities and stimulate domestic consumption, which is crucial for the country's economic growth. By integrating migrant populations more fully into urban social and economic systems, China hopes to unlock new avenues for development and reduce reliance on export-led growth.