This situation is acutely felt in one of China's major manufacturing hubs. Citizens seeking temporary work on the streets gather in front of the short-term job offers provided by factories, expressing dissatisfaction with heavy labor and low income.
The transformation in China's industry — the shift from cheap manufacturing to automation and high technology — is creating difficulties for many ordinary workers.
Last year, although China's economy remained under pressure from slowdown and unemployment, it managed to sustain nearly 5 percent growth thanks to exports. Nevertheless, public discontent has not diminished.
Now, conflicts in the Middle East are also impacting the global economy, adding further pressure on factory orders and the number of jobs in China.
In the city of Foshan, Guangdong Province, workers are mainly offered temporary jobs — producing plastic products or assembling electronic device components. The salary is around 18–20 yuan per hour.
