Migrant workers feel the squeeze in Beijing micro-flats

Just when you thought Hong Kong’s sub-divided flats couldn’t get any smaller, consider this – more than 38 residents squeeze themselves into an Beijing apartment measuring about 130 square metres (1,400 square feet), the reported on Wednesday.

In a high-end residential area in uptown Beijing, the owner of a three-storey duplex sub-divided his property into 38 rooms and rented them out to maximise his profits.

All 38 rooms – each measuring about 30 square feet – have been successfully rented out. Most residents are low-income migrant workers from far-flung provinces around China, who are prepared to endure the most basic any living conditions just to find employment in the capital.

According to the 2011 national census, Beijing is China’s second largest city has more than 20 million inhabitants – with migrant workers making up one-third of residents.

The tenants living in the 38 rooms include sales staff, waitresses, fitness trainers, smartphone game developers, bartenders, students, hairdressers and property agents.

“This is the smallest room I have ever lived in,” one tenant named Peng said. He said he lives in the cramped room to save money to repay a debt he owes.