Migrant workers in China are eager to learn Mandarin Chinese, or Putonghua, as required by most urban employers, but a report has revealed that no more than 2.4 percent of rural workers in cities had access to language training.

The report on 2006 language situation, made by the Ministry of Education, said migrant workers preferred to speak local dialects, and about 70 percent of them found it hard to speak Mandarin.

Nearly 80 percent of migrant workers, especially those who wish to work as restaurant waiters, were required to speak Mandarin by their employers.

Most migrant workers chose to practice Mandarin with friends or town fellows as they fear to be looked down upon, it said.

Li Yuming, a language administration official with the Ministry of Education, said local government and employers should offer Mandarin training to migrant workers to help them better adapt to urban life.

The report showed 88 percent of workers interviewed believed it was easy to learn Mandarin, and 95 percent expected their children could speak Mandarin fluently.

Official statistics show China had about 200 million migrant workers.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2007)