China’s two-speed economic recovery leaves migrant workers and small businesses lagging behind
- Migrant workers and garment factories in Guangzhou are still reeling from the impact of the coronavirus, as weak demand for orders has left scores without work
- China is the only G20 economy expected to report positive economic growth this year, but it has been sectors close to the government that have benefited the most
Every morning, Qiaonan New Street in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong province, appears to be bustling with shoppers looking through its stalls of fabrics and textiles.
But on closer inspection, the 500m-long street starts to resemble something akin to an open air job market, filled with thousands of migrant workers searching for employment at nearby garment workshops and factories that supply Zhongda market, China’s largest fabric market.
“I work hard, but still do not earn enough to support my family,” said Hu Lixiu, a migrant worker from the central province of Hubei, who was looking for work to supplement her regular job. “I think we are now even earning less than in June or July.”
For a 14-hour shift that usually starts at 7am, Hu could earn as little as 165 yuan (US$24) sewing accessories.
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“I have only earned about 2,000 yuan over the past half month, but I need to pay the rent and support my old parents and children in my hometown,” she said.