In China, women fill gap in heavy-labor industries

A Wall Street Journal story quoted Yige Dong about the shortage of male workers in China has opened a path to women in heavy-labor industries like construction and railways. She said that Chinese employers, especially state-owned companies in rail and construction, often hire women disproportionately as temporary workers for marginalized roles, such as heavy labor or dirty work, to sidestep labor laws that require them to ensure benefits and safety for permanent employees. But many of these temp workers lack safety training, she said. “All women face the dilemma of making a living and ensuring family needs, but really the rural workers bear more burden on their shoulders than others,” said Dong.