New Factory Women in Time and Space

Abstract

My interviewees revealed multiple reasons for migration. Their stories also showed that most of them made their own decision to migrate. Women migrant workers in Sicheng were specifically sought after by managers because they are unmarried women from rural Subei. This chapter tries to sort out the following puzzles: 1. What does Sicheng managers’ recruitment of Subei unmarried women workers tell us about the gender division of labour in silk production? What does it tell us about the meaning of silk production? 2. What does these unmarried women’s entry into industrial work tell us about the interplay of gender, kinship and family relations?

In order to reduce workers and staff in erxian gongren [subsidiary jobs] last year [1995], 600 workers and staff were asked to change their jobs within the enterprise. One-third of them took an early retirement [they are usually around mid-30s]; one-third left the enterprise because they have connections to do business elsewhere, yet they want to get a pension from the enterprise. In order to do this, they have to invest 2000 yuan each year until their retirement age; another one-third are reassigned to production jobs, with yiji gongzi [one single-level wage increase], but only 2 per cent of them took the offer. For those who refuse to work as production workers, they are paid three months, at minimum wage [210 yuan], and then they are unemployed.¹

Deputy general-manager, Yonghong factory

When I was in high school, I was one of the best students in my class. Both my teachers and I had high hopes of getting into a university. But I failed miserably. I think I was too nervous. I like studying. But I don’t want to try again, because it is very expensive to be in school for another year. I don’t want be a burden to my parents.²

Zong, a female migrant worker

One day, my grandpa came home with a job advertisement for factory work in Yonghong the local labour service bureau put out. My grandpa said that Jiangnan is beautiful, that I can go visit Suzhou on weekend once I’m there. That’s how I came here.³

Tao, a female migrant worker