Li Feng, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and a purchasing manager at Shanghai Panda Machinery (Group) Co Ltd. [Photo/npc.gov.cn]

Li Feng, a purchasing manager at Shanghai Panda Machinery (Group) Co Ltd, said that advocating for grassroots workers is his eternal responsibility as a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), and shared that he has started a new round of action as a reelected lawmaker.

"NPC deputies should keep their eyes open to spot problems," said Li, who has been engaged in grassroots work and was once honored as a model individual of migrant workers in Shanghai. Li said that over the past five years, as a deputy to the 13th NPC, he has submitted more than 10 suggestions on coping with problems and difficulties in people's livelihoods, such as security for children in distress, social security for the flexibly employed, and the renovation of old residential communities.

"I am a migrant worker myself and I truly understand migrant workers," said Li. During his surveys, Li learned that some children of migrant workers face difficulties in personal safety and development, due to family economic hardships, physical disabilities, or a lack of effective guardianship.

To help solve problems that may affect the healthy growth of the children and impact social harmony, Li submitted the suggestion on establishing a security mechanism for children in difficult circumstances for two consecutive years. To his relief, his suggestion received attention from relevant departments, and more policies have been introduced in succession, from central to local governments, to support children in troubled conditions.

Li said that working at the grassroots level, the difficulties and problems he has met are often common to such groups as migrant workers. People at the grassroots may not understand some national policies very well or do not know how to express their opinions, it is the responsibility of NPC deputies to help voice their concerns, he added.

Li has also been concerned about the protection of the rights and interests of people in the new employment models. During his research, Li has found that although the employment model of trans-provincial labor outsourcing is more flexible and produces more job opportunities, there are also many potential problems.

Some migrant workers, such as online ride-hailing drivers and express delivery workers, work in Shanghai, but cannot enjoy the local social security benefits because they pay for their social security in other regions. Since they are not regular employees, they can only be paid by the hour or from orders through outsourcing companies. The management of some outsourcing companies was not standardized and there was a lack of effective channels safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the workers.

Last year, Li and other deputies jointly submitted suggestions on standardizing flexible employment models for outsourcing companies, including optimizing relevant laws and regulations, smoothing channels protecting the rights and interests of outsourced workers, and establishing more trade unions that can provide services for outsourced workers and flexibly employed individuals in a timely manner.

Over the past five years, Li has earnestly studied how to effectively perform the duties of an NPC deputy and actively participated in various duty performance activities. He attended several special training sessions each year in order to enrich and expand his knowledge base.

"Now, I am familiar with such fields as intellectual property dispute resolution and the judicial protection of minors," Li said, adding that he now has a better understanding of China's system of people's congresses. Li's performance of duties over the past five years has broadened his vision, and also gained him many unforgettable memories.

"Nowadays, people in my company like to call me 'Deputy Li', and some fellow workers from other enterprises like to call me to share their opinions," said Li. The NPC deputy is proud to serve as a bridge between the government and the people and to be trusted by people of all backgrounds.

He said that he will continue to pay attention to the urgent and difficult problems of great concern to grassroots workers, speak on their behalf, and put forward more high-quality suggestions.