Enterprises

In the Shunde Science and Technology Industrial Park of Guangdong, which is home to over 1,000 enterprises, only 30 to 40 percent of the companies had started running as of Sunday.

Xinhua reporter contacted 10 enterprises and found three were in operation. Only one of them said it planned to recruit employee.

To the joy of some workers, there were still a few companies decided to maintain their work force. They are eyeing long-term development and wants to make sure their production goes smoothly and in a stable manner.

The management of the Shanghai Nissei Display System Company Ltd. did not sack a single person of its 900-strong migrant worker force despite overseas orders have been dropped for three consecutive months.

Wang Genrong, director of the human resources department of the company, said "we don't want to fire people just because of the poor business results. We would arrange job shifts and offer more training for our empolyees."

Xu Zhenkun, a Fujian-based businessman who owns a shoe company that employed more than 1,000 people said he needs his people.

"Hopefully the economic situation will improve in the latter half of this year. Currently, no new order, no new job," Xu said.

Suburban migrant worker village

Huang Shibing's worrying face is definitely inharmonious with the eve of a big festival.

Living in Xiangyang Village of Minhang District of Shanghai, the 42-year-old man says the gloomy job prospect constantly gets on his nerves.

"I go to the labor market everyday and hope to find a job with higher income than my current warehouse keeper salary. But they said I was too old." he groaned.

For Ni Xiaogang, who's been on a "vacation" since he traveled from Sichuan's hometown to Shanghai on Feb. 1, he shoulders paramount pressure.

"The monthly rent for the apartment is 180 yuan and I have to spend 20 yuan on food each day."

Though down and out, many migrant workers are not feeling panicked and still looking for hope.

Wang Shaoqi, who is now working for a food processing company and earns 2,000 yuan a month says he will stay on in spite of the job instability.

He hopes to settle in Shanghai through hard work and self-improvement. He also saves money to learn driving and computer skills on weekends.

"As long as I have skills, I have hope." he said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2009)