05-28-2010, 03:42 PM
MEG- BINGO ! Well quoted.
Most people in the US really have no idea what working life is in China. I haven't been there either, but I've gotten firsthand explanations from others.
Envision this:
You are a Chinese worker in a factory.
You live in a dormitory attached to the factory. You share a small apartment in a highrise walkup building (no elevator) with up to four other people. You probably sleep in bunk beds. You own two outfits- one to wear, and one that is drying because you washed it in your sink the night before. There is no heat or air conditioning in the apartment- you're happy to have running water and electricity.
You eat all your meals in the company cafeteria, 7 days a week. You may shop for what few things you need or want in the company store, which is also in the factory compound. For leisure you and your roommates may own a TV. You may be sending remittances home to your family in whichever province you came from. If you're not Han, you probably get harassed a lot, or not even hired (yes, Chinese culture is very racist).
You work on an assembly line style area, under tight supervision. Your supervisor is typically a 'theory X' boss, and will happily yell and strike you if he's pissed at you. And yes, he is usually a guy. And yes, he gets 'favors' from the women that work for him. Your environmental working conditions will vary. If the company is owned by a Chinese company, the working conditions will generally be sub-standard. If it's a 'foreign' company, the working conditions will generally be better, because foreign companies are held to a higher standard that Chinese companies, who know who to bribe. Your work environment is neither heated nor airconditioned. You may get a break for a quick lunch in the cafeteria, but that's usually about it. Again- it depends on how well your employer bribes the regulatory officials in your area.
And in the end, you're happy to have this job, because it's still a hell of a lot easier than working on the farm.
Most people in the US really have no idea what working life is in China. I haven't been there either, but I've gotten firsthand explanations from others.
Envision this:
You are a Chinese worker in a factory.
You live in a dormitory attached to the factory. You share a small apartment in a highrise walkup building (no elevator) with up to four other people. You probably sleep in bunk beds. You own two outfits- one to wear, and one that is drying because you washed it in your sink the night before. There is no heat or air conditioning in the apartment- you're happy to have running water and electricity.
You eat all your meals in the company cafeteria, 7 days a week. You may shop for what few things you need or want in the company store, which is also in the factory compound. For leisure you and your roommates may own a TV. You may be sending remittances home to your family in whichever province you came from. If you're not Han, you probably get harassed a lot, or not even hired (yes, Chinese culture is very racist).
You work on an assembly line style area, under tight supervision. Your supervisor is typically a 'theory X' boss, and will happily yell and strike you if he's pissed at you. And yes, he is usually a guy. And yes, he gets 'favors' from the women that work for him. Your environmental working conditions will vary. If the company is owned by a Chinese company, the working conditions will generally be sub-standard. If it's a 'foreign' company, the working conditions will generally be better, because foreign companies are held to a higher standard that Chinese companies, who know who to bribe. Your work environment is neither heated nor airconditioned. You may get a break for a quick lunch in the cafeteria, but that's usually about it. Again- it depends on how well your employer bribes the regulatory officials in your area.
And in the end, you're happy to have this job, because it's still a hell of a lot easier than working on the farm.