CCTV9英语新闻12月：农民工新政策福利购票（在线收听）

By CCTV reporter Liu Yang

The end of the year is a time when most migrant workers in cities across China start to worry over the same question: will we be able to get a train ticket to go back home? Their plans to spend Spring Festival with their loved ones just got a shot in the arm, with the introduction of a new policy by the government that makes it easier for them to buy tickets.

The first day of group bookings for train journeys, but with a difference. This year, thanks to a change in policy, more migrant workers will be able to get a ticket to go back home for the Spring Festival in February.

“We lowered the threshold this time, which allows companies with even 50 employees to purchase group tickets compared to the previous requirement of one hundred. Five people with the same destination can purchase group tickets as well.” Wang Wei, deputy director of Guangzhou Railway Station, said.

Wang Wei says they are expecting more companies will come to the kiosk to register in the coming two days. Last year, very few companies completed that registration. Representatives of various companies say that the new policies will benefit not just migrant workers, but others too.

"We had about 15 people who wanted to take the same train back home, but we could not get the train ticket. If the company can get the ticket for them, all of us benefit. So we are so happy that the new policy has come out." Group train ticket buyer in Guangzhou said.

“This new policy definitely helps us. We have a small company. We cannot get all 20 people going to the same destination. Now with the five people requirement, it is better.” Group train ticket buyer in Guangzhou said.

Besides the new policies particularly designed for migrant workers, regular travellers can book tickets on their cell phone and on-line, and college students will be able to get tickets from ticket vendors soon. Nevertheless, for the more than 262 million rural workers in China who work in the cities, away from their families, getting a train ticket to go home on Spring Festival is the simplest gift they could wish for before the Chinese New Year.

Last month’s Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee issued many reforms, designed to boost the rights of rural citizens. They include changes to the household registration system and rural property rights. Importantly, a more balanced allocation of public resources will be promoted in both urban and rural areas. One thing is for sure: this year’s spring festival will see even more migrant workers take a ticket back home.