China: Rising unemployment hits

Todays a river of people has flowed through Beijing station and scores more around the country. Here just a few of the hundreds millions of people returning home on Chinas railway this week.



This year, many have mixed feelings, they hedged their family reunions. The global slowdown has now hurt China. And its workers like these are suffering as companies close. The urban unemployment rate has risen sharply to over 4% after five years of successive declines. Chinese experts say the real rate is far higher, perhaps 10% or more, because these workers from the countryside are not even counted in the official statistics.



Im worried. Now its difficult to work in Beijing. Ive only just seen(???) my salary is delayed for a whole month.




For years, workers had been drawn to the cities by better jobs and higher wages. Now some are wondering whether its worth leaving their villages again.



I havent decided it yet. Well talk about it when I get home.



No, I wont come back this year. The company cant afford to pay. My boss wants me to come back. But Ive decided not to work there anymore. If I do, I might not get my wages paid next year.



Spring festival is the biggest celebration in the Chinese calendar. And hundreds millions of workers leave factories and building sites and return home for their families. But this year, familys reunions will change to anxiety. Thanks to the economic downturn, many of these workers simply dont know if theyll have jobs when they come back soon.

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• China
• Rising
• unemployment
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