The worldwide economic downturn has affected China’s export-oriented factories on a big scale. By the end of February, the number of migrant farmers returning to Wuhan alone reached 38,300 and the number is increasing. According to local government statistics, about 27,500, or 72 per cent of the total, have found employment so far. Some 300 of them started their own business, while 8,500 joined various re-training schemes provided by the government.

Helping returning migrant farmers find work is now a top priority for the Wuhan government. Forty three job-seeking conferences have been planned especially for migrant workers. The government has introduced a number of measures, including providing small loans to help returning farmers set up their own business. For those companies that have cashflow problems but are not cutting jobs, the local government has pledged to subsidise their social security provisions for their employees for up to six months.