The Chinese laborers and managers' wide income gap is regarded as a top public concern in an online survey. (Photo : Reuters)
Income distribution ranked as the public’s top concern with 540,000 votes out of nearly 4 million responses, a survey conducted by the People’s Daily Online showed.
The poll posted ahead of this year's two annual parliamentary sessions, a major political event in the country, furthermore reinforced anti-corruption and new economic normalcy as the second and third highest public concerns, respectively.
The 10 biggest issues identified by the masses also included food and drugs safety, administration simplification and transformation of power to lower levels, strictness of running the Party, protection of the environment, reform on education, social insurance and housing.
As in previous survey results, the people's concern over personal livelihood remained strong. Compared with the previous polls, income distribution gathered more votes this year.
It was also a first for the issue to climb to the no. 1 position. Social insurance, which held the top position for four consecutive years since 2011, slipped to no. 9.
Ninety-five percent of the respondents stated dissatisfaction on their income. Many netizens have also appealed to diminish the income gap between high-ranking business officials and common workers.
The online discussion has also reflected the masses' concern on an array of livelihood issues and their willingness to witness social growth and development. Pollution, education equality, housing and family planning also sparked fierce discussions among the 4 million respondents.
With stronger force, the public has also continued to call for anti-corruption measures.
The "two sessions" held every March is an effective avenue by which the congress and the country's top advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), lay out solutions to the nation's pressing problems.
