A PRIZE of 1,000 yuan (US$128.21) will be awarded to 100 excellent female migrants next month, the first time they will have been officially included in Women's Day awards.

The winners will also receive help in getting their hukou, or permanent residence permit, the Shenzhen Women's Federation (SWF) has announced.

The program, cosponsored by the SWF and the local labor and social security authorities, is a gift for migrant women in time for International Women's Day, which falls on tomorrow.

"Those awarded will be exempted from the city-level threshold exam that migrants normally need to sit to receive a Shenzhen hukou. Other requirements on technological background and age will also be relaxed for the winning women," said Zang Chen, an official with the SWF, yesterday.

This is reportedly the first time that migrant women will have been included in the Women's Day awards on a big scale in the city, as past awards like the "Red Flag Carriers" were generally given to hukou holders.

Local companies are urged to recommend qualified candidates by next Friday, who will then be scrutinized by public security and family planning authorities in the next few days to ensure that they do not violate State policies or have bad records.

Besides abiding by the country's one-child policy, candidates must also meet other criteria such as having worked for their employer for three consecutive years, having a good work performance and serving as a role model for other women.

Companies can ask for application forms from SWF branches or download the form at www.szwomen.org.cn.

Women account for more than half of Shenzhen's 6 million migrant population.

Editor: Wing