上世纪五六十年代，人们心中最耀眼的明星不是影视歌星、体坛名将，而是劳模。当时的口号是“劳动最伟大、劳模最光荣”。那个年代涌现出来的王进喜、时传祥、张秉贵等人的事迹，激励了一代人去学技术、抓生产。

2010年年初，媒体报道我国拟立法规定外国人可获“全国劳模”等称号。消息一经公布，顿时激起热烈的讨论。请看报道：

Foreigners in China could be eligible for the title of "National Model Worker," one of China's highest honors, under a draft regulation that was opened to public submissions Tuesday.

—— Excerpt from Foreigners eligible for 'National Model Worker' accolade

        劳模（model worker）是“劳动模范”的简称。在社会主义建设事业中成绩卓著的劳动者，经职工民主评选，有关部门审核和政府审批后被授予这样的荣誉称号。中共中央、国务院授予的劳动模范为“全国劳动模范”（National Model Worker），是当前中国最高的荣誉称号；除此之外还有“全国先进生产者”（National Advanced Producer）、“全国先进集体”（National Advanced Groups）等称号。

2010年是五年一次的“劳模年”。3月15日，北京市总工会（Beijing municipal federation of trade unions）宣布，首次将非本市户籍的劳动者纳入评选范围（含贡献突出的外籍劳动者）。这意味着北京今年也许会涌现出一批农民工劳模和洋劳模。有关专家认为，北京的这一举措是一个进步；从某种程度上来说，好像让我们看到了户籍制度改革（reform of household registration system）的一丝曙光。请看报道：

Beijing, the Chinese capital, is allowing expatriates to be elected as "model workers" for the first time.

"You don't have to be a Communist Party member, a Communist Youth League member or even a member of the trade union in your company." …

"We welcome everybody in Beijing, be they foreign staff or migrant workers. Even nannies with excellent records and good personalities can be nominated." …

—— Excerpt from Foreigners and migrants can be model workers