Migrant Workers in China Essay -- Chinese Migrant Workers

Chen Hong Xia is one of the 250 million migrants in China’s growing economy. These migrant workers are the people who support China’s whole economy, without them China will not be where it is now. Although they are crucial in China’s growth, migrant workers are treated with disrespect. Chen Hong Xia is one of the ‘luckier’ migrant workers. She was able to work her way out of poverty into a better future. There are many similarities between Chen Hong Xia and most migrants in China, but there are also many differences. These include their expectations, working environment, living environment and children. Like many of the migrant workers in China, Chen Hong Xia wanted a better future in the city and find a job with good working conditions and high wages. Chen Hong Xia comes from a small town in Shandong province, she grew up on a farm producing rice and corn. Although there were many job opportunities in Shan Dong province, all the jobs were agricultural jobs that offered low pay and required lots of physical activity. In the movie Last Train Home directed by Lixin Fan, Qin left Sichuan Province and went to Dong Guan city because she wanted more money and be able to pursue her dreams. Many of China’s younger generation of migrant workers are abandoning agricultural production and moving permanently to the city. (Zhou Jing, China’s New Generation Of Migrant Workers) They are refusing to work under hard conditions. Unlike the previous generation they never experienced the â€Å"bitterness of life†. In the past migrant workers were thankful to just have food, todayâ €™s migrants start being picky, expecting high salary, less physical jobs, basic benefits and better working conditions. (Michelle Loyalka, Chinese Labor, Cheap No More) Zhou Ji... .... 2014. Chang, Leslie T. "US Misses Full Truth On China Factory Workers." CNN.com. Cable News Network, 1 Oct. 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Connor, Neil. "Beijing's 'Rat Tribe' Scurry From High Costs Underground." Yahoo.com. Yahoo.com, 21 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Fan, Lixin, dir. Last Train Home. EyeSteelFilm, 2009. Film. Gapper, John. "China's Migrant Workers Expect More." Ft.com. Financial Times, 7 Sept. 2011. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Grindley, Sally. Spilled Water. New York: Bloomsbury, 2004. Print. Hays, Jeffery. "Migrant Workers in China." Factsanddetails.com. Factsanddetails.com, Mar. 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2014 Jing, Zhou. "China's New Generation of Migrant Workers." China.org.cn. China.org.cn, 26 Oct. 2009. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Loyalka, Michelle D. "Chinese Labor, Cheap No More." Nytimes.com. The New York Times, 17 Feb. 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.