From today’s Financial Times: ” China has blamed poor working conditions at companies in the Pearl river delta, a manufacturing heartland studded with foreign factories, for an unprecedented shortage of workers that threatens to erode the competitiveness of the region bordering Hong Kong.
Low wages, late payment and long hours in harsh conditions found among some of the region’s employers are the main reasons for a shortfall of about 2m workers, according to a report by the ministry of labour and social security. The report said the Yangtze delta, an area that embraces Shanghai and 15 satellite cities, was luring workers away from the Pearl delta with better conditions and higher pay.
Consequently, the Yangtze area is not suffering from a labour shortage, although the eastcoast provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian are facing a tight labour market. ”
The full article is here.
