Tens of thousands of rural Chinese flock to the cities in search of work

Torture, extortion, and other beatings have been banned in migrant holding centres, and the authorities have been forbidden from holding detainees indefinitely.

The new rules shift responsibility for the detention centres from the police to civil affairs bureaux, which are more capable of providing shelter and support.

There are no social benefits - all I get is my salary. Hands stop, mouth stops. If I get sick I just have to keep my eyes open and sit here Fu Ansi, migrant worker Fu Ansi's story

Millions of Chinese are on the move in search of work, and the government requires them to apply for permission to live in a new location.

Those caught without residency papers are detained, and then sent home.

The new regulations take effect on 1 August, and replace 20-year-old rules scrapped last week that governed the detention and repatriation of vagrants and beggars.

There was a public outcry after Sun Zhigang, a university graduate, was beaten in a migrant holding centre in March.

Although he was not an illegal worker, he did not have the right papers on him and was taken into detention, where he died.

The incident led to a petition by a group of legal scholars, who asked China's legislature to rule that residency regulations were unconstitutional.