Society

Migrant workers feel alienated in the city

By Zuo Likun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-06-04 17:10

Migrant workers throng into the sprawling factories in southern boomtown Shenzhen, as in other big Chinese cities. They are truly the backbone of modern China. Yet, they find no sense of belonging in the steel-and-concrete forest, where they could hardly afford a home, not even a school seat for their children.

The following speech notes by three migrant worker deputies of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress' latest plenary session, were published in Friday's Nanfang Daily and translated by China Daily editors, to give the readers a glimpse of what they say is an alienated life in Shenzhen. All of them were new women at the municipal congress.

Yao Qiongying

Yao Qiongying [Nanfang Daily]

Workshop?director at Sanyang Mini-motor Factory in Bao'an District, Shenzhen

"I came to Shenzhen in 1997, and have stayed in the plant for over 10 years now. We have to work extra hours to earn more money, to send back home for our children's education.

"Most of us got married in our early 20s, and our children are left in our hometown. They feel remote to us, sometimes they would not even call us mom. Therefore, many migrants feel greatly distressed.

"Except for eight to 10 hours' work, we have no extra activities. So day after day, it's work, meal and sleep, very simple and dull. We have no sense of belonging in Shenzhen."

Yao proposed raising the baseline for personal income tax, especially for migrant workers. The current benchmark is 2,000 yuan ($293). She also hoped the municipal government could build more schools for migrant workers' children.

Xie Suzhen

Xie Suzhen [Nanfang Daily]?

HR director at the shoemaker Freetrend Industrial Ltd, in Longgang District, Shenzhen

"We want to find a foothold in the city, but the rent is too high, so is the livelihood. I have been here for 15 years, some have been here for over 20 years. But we still can't afford an apartment. We find no self-identity in this city.

"My daughter is 9 years old. Many peer workers share my troubles about children's education. Without a resident registration certificate (known as "Hu Kou" in Chinese), our kids, when they reach high school age, have to go back to the hometown to prepare for college. Even with a special policy that allows them to stay, private schools will be too expensive."

Xie proposed that the municipal government give migrant workers more access to low-cost housing. She called for more seats for migrant workers' children at public schools, which are deemed better than private ones in China. The new congresswoman also urged local trade unions to be more supportive of workers' psychological needs. She admitted, in order to stay in Shenzhen, migrant workers should work hard and learn more.

Huang Lingling

Huang Lingling [Nanfang Daily]?

Product line director at Amphenol Electronic LTD, in Bao'an District, Shenzhen

"Parents feel nervous about leaving their children home alone, but the preschool tuition is exorbitant. We could hardly afford that."

Pastime activities for migrant workers are almost non-existent, and "many don't know what to do after work."

"Public security is far from satisfactory. Many young female workers dare not go out at night."

Huang hoped the government could bring down the preschool fee or offer more preferential policies to migrant workers. She also urged a salary hike in the wake of a general inflation as well as beefed-up public security.