Farmers in south China's Guangdong Province are expected to get old-age pensions starting this year for the requisition of their land, an official said Friday.

 

The guidelines for providing pensions for farmers have been finalized and are awaiting approval from superior authorities, said Yang Jianhai, an official with the provincial department of work and social security.

 

About 1.2 million farmers in cities such as Dongguan, Zhongshan and Zhuhai have been included in the system for the requisition of land already. The province aims to extend the system to all the localities.

 

The rich Pearl River Delta region has begun to pay 200-300 yuan (US$25-37.5) monthly to each farmer over the age of 60.

 

Guangdong hopes to cover all the farmers with the social security system in the future, Yang said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2006)