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Financial crisis forces migrants back home for work

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-09 17:19

"Behind a migrant is a family which needs to be supported," it said, calling on local governments to address the issue.

Some others saw the positive side of the issue.

In Jiangxi, Wan Jiannong, head of the labor bureau, claimed the "homebound rush" helpful to ease the labor drought in the province's 94 industrial parks.

"In the past few years, a large number of workers flowed out. The gap used to be more than 200,000," he said.

Starting from last decade when the rapid inflow of investors generated more jobs in cities, the number of migrant workers soared quickly. Central government figures showed that it stood at 60 million in 1992, 120 million in 2003, and 210 million this year.

Wan's view was shared by Li Weiping, Party secretary of the Lianshui county in eastern Jiangsu province.

"While many young and middle-aged people working away from home, leaving only the elderly and the children back home, the lack of laborers greatly hindered local development," he said, pointing out that such a phenomenon was common in rural areas of other parts of China.

Measures have been taken.

In Anhui, 150 million yuan has been earmarked to help returned farmers start their own businesses in the hometown.

Chen Xiaoling, vice head of the provincial labor and social security department, pledged to provide more training for farmers. "This year training for more than 20,000 people. In 2009, we will offer training for another 50,000," she said.

The southwestern Chongqing municipality has decided to attract more local farmers back to start businesses. By 2012, the number is to reach 180,000.

In Jiangxi, farmers like Yu were introduced to new posts after they returned.

Yu Yuanhua found a job in the county seat of Guangfeng, also in a clothes factory.

"I received 1,500 yuan (US$220.5) this month," she said, with a beaming smile on her face, "I will not work away again."

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