Shenzhen was planning to lower healthcare insurance fees for migrant workers to 10 yuan (US$1.2) a month, Chinese-language newspapers reported.

The proposal was discussed at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress and the city's public health bureau Friday.

Migrant workers needed to pay 48 yuan a month, or 9 percent of their monthly wages, to cover healthcare insurance under present policies, the bureau said. Employers were obliged to meet 7 percent of this cost for employees, but many employers refused to pay.

Only 1.65 million migrant workers were covered by the healthcare insurance program, the bureau said.

The lower fee, to be paid by both employers and employees, could encourage more employers to meet their obligations, the bureau said.

The government was also considering allocating money from the city's lottery revenue, medical institutions and social donations, to subsidize healthcare for migrant workers, the bureau said.

Editor: Catherine