Were talking about a communist state here fallguy, im surprised...

Were talking about a communist state here fallguy, im surprised theu didnt say full employment. However, with staste run inefficient factories closing down, its not the workers paradise you might like to portray.

Protest marches

In the cities, these include millions of people laid off from state-owned factories as a result of the economic reforms.

Workers who used to be guaranteed wages, housing and health care are suddenly being left with little or nothing.

There have been several examples of discontent spilling into the streets. In 2002, hundreds of workers laid-off from state-owned factories in north-east China held marches and protests, before their leaders were arrested.

Migrant workers are another group which makes leaders nervous.

As the agriculture sector has declined, an estimated 80-120 million people are thought to have left their homes in search of work and to be now living elsewhere, often moving from job to job.

Because they are usually poorly paid and are not entitled to the urban population’s social benefits, they are seen as a potential mass of discontent. The leadership also blames them for speeding the spread of Aids.

China’s unemployed could also pose a threat. Officially there are about seven million people out of work, though most analysts believe the real total is much higher.