A banner hung across the gate of Beijing Measuring and Cutting Tools Factory in western Beijing read, "Sell your houses and limousines and give the workers means to live. 150 million yuan [$18 million] in state assets--where has it gone?"

The Chinese government is attempting to implement a policy of capitalist market reforms in this workers state of an estimated 1.3 billion people. In the case of this factory, for example, Beijing has agreed to sell the land on which it has been located for the past 42 years and move the plant to a new spot in neighboring Hebei province later this year. Those workers not willing to make the long commute have been offered 2,500 yuan for every year they had worked at the plant (1 yuan = US 12 cents).

"I'm 50 years old and I'll get 80,000 yuan," said one man in an interview with Reuters news service. "What do I do till I'm eligible for social security in 10 years?"

Another man named Li, 33, stated, "They say they're broke, [but] how can they be broke and driving top-of-the-line Audis." A woman surnamed Jia, 38, added, "No one's representing our interests. Even our so-called labor union is in their hands."

According to the Reuters report, "Labor ministry figures recorded more than 120,000 labor disputes in 1999." These have included protests over layoffs and inadequate and delayed payments to workers.

In another development, the Chinese government said that they would end their decades-old system requiring people to work in the area where they are registered to live. This move comes in response to mounting migration by those living in the countryside in search of work in the cities.

According to an August 17 CNN story, "Chinese officials estimate there are more than 150 million people out of work in the countryside, and their numbers are estimated to rise by five to six million each year." Authorities expect close to 50 million people to make their way to the cities in search of work.  
 
 
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