By Phyllis Xu and Ben Blanchard

BEIJING, May 14 (Reuters) - China has taken big steps to eradicate discrimination in the workplace, but must be more stringent in enforcing laws to protect workers such as migrants, a senior U.N. official said on Monday.

Laws banning discrimination against those infected with HIV/AIDS and offering more protection to women are a positive development, though it may take more time to help China's tens of millions of migrant workers, said Constance Thomas, China director of the International Labour Organization.

"I've seen a big change in the last eight years since I have been coming to China talking about this issue," she told Reuters.

"Firstly, there does exist some legislation. It's continuing to be improved, it's continuing to be reviewed. We now have a good example on non-discrimination provision for HIV/AIDS," Thomas added.

Despite enacting the new laws, the government has been criticised both at home and abroad for not doing enough to enforce them.

The country's migrant workers, who in the past two decades have flocked from poorer, mainly inland parts of China to the booming coastal regions and cities, in particular have little legal protection.

Many lack the proper paperwork to live in cities and are denied the healthcare, education for their children and legal rights that urban residents enjoy.

The ILO said in a report last week that migrant workers might encounter difficulties in obtaining wages on time, they tended to work longer hours, were more vulnerable to workplace injuries and illnesses, did not have social security coverage and might be exposed to other risks, including trafficking.

"It is only now being publicly discussed. Again, that's progress. And it's now clear that the policy is that eventually the goal is to remove the discrimination," Thomas said.

"But we fully understand that's a process that takes time. You don't immediately, in the name of equality, do something that is not practical."

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