(ECNS) -- China is mulling measures to assist the 13 million people who haven't been registered in its houshold system,also known as "hukou". The issue was one of the major topics at a meeting of the Ministry of Public Security held over the weekend.
Based on results of the sixth national census and research surveys, about 60 percent of the non-registered population was "illegally" born in terms of the one-child policy. Others mainly include abandoned babies, children born out of wedlock, those who didn't report for registration or lost key certificates.
The hukou system is one of China's basic social management instruments. Without registration, some people are not entitled to social security, public education, and other related services. It also affects their employment.
Current regulations have clearly stated that all Chinese nationals should register to the hukou system. Newborns should be reported to local authorities a month after their birth.
Problems lie in implementation, where local public security authorities play roles as hukou registrars and supervisors of the birth-control policy. The dual role has contributed to underground money-for-hukou deals, while families that are unwilling to pay leave their illegitimate babies unregistered.
The meeting reached an agreement to tackle the problem and include the non-registered into the hukou system as soon as possible.
Experts also proposed an electronic hukou registration mechanism to cut down on paperwork and address the disconnection of the system with other public benefits.
