Chinese Migrant Workers Research Articles

Conceptions of adulthood among migrant women workers in China

The experiences of emerging adulthood may vary in different historical and cultural contexts. Little research has been dedicated to how non college students view adulthood in developing countries. Currently, millions of young people are migrating from rural villages to industrial cities in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate conceptions of adulthood among Chinese migrant women workers, using mixed methods. One hundred and nineteen women workers (aged 18–29 years) from a factory in Guangdong, China, completed a questionnaire of markers for adulthood. Then, 15 of them were interviewed regarding their understanding of the transition to adulthood. The results showed that the majority of the young Chinese migrant women workers believed they had reached adulthood in some ways but not others. Married women and women with children were more likely to perceive themselves as adults, even controlling for age. Learn to care for parents, settled into a long-term career and become capable of caring for children were ranked as the most important markers for adulthood. Participants were least likely to feel adult when they were with their parents. The migrant women workers’ conceptions of adulthood reflected the traditional Chinese emphasis on family obligations, social relations and role transitions.

Chinese migrants’ work experience and city identification: Challenging the underclass thesis

Are internal migrant workers who have contributed so much to contemporary Chinese economic growth forming a distinct, impoverished underclass (Chan, 2010; Solinger, 2006) or are they slowly merging into the Chinese working class? In this article sociological theory is employed to develop the distinction between underclass and working class, including the conditions and criteria that enable these social categories to be distinguished theoretically and empirically. Drawing on a large range of survey data, including our own analysis of a recent Chinese migrant worker survey, we examine relevant aspects of work and city experience in order to assess the underclass thesis. In addition, we evaluate the argument that younger migrant workers are significantly different in work orientation and strategies for work-life improvement compared with their more experienced counterparts. We conclude that evidence for the underclass thesis is less compelling than an interpretation that views most migrant workers as transitioning into the working class. In addition, although younger workers are more intrinsically oriented than older migrants, both groups concur that labor law enforcement is critical for work-life improvement while simultaneously developing their own collective capacity to influence labor relations outcomes.

The relationship between attributional style and destructive responses to job dissatisfaction: an exploratory study of internal migrant workers in China

This study examines the relationship between attributional style and destructive responses to job dissatisfaction among internal migrant workers in mainland China. Contrary to previous studies conducted in the West, we found that internality of bad events was negatively related to destructive responses to job dissatisfaction. Stability and globality were positively related to destructive responses to job dissatisfaction. We suggest that the concept of interdependent self-construal may explain the unique positive meaning of internality of bad events among Chinese migrant workers. The practical significance of the findings is discussed.

A Field Study of Chinese Migrant Workers' Attitudes Toward Risks, Strategic Uncertainty, and Competitiveness

A Field Study of Chinese Migrant Workers' Attitudes Toward Risks, Strategic Uncertainty, and Competitiveness

A Field Study of Chinese Migrant Workers' Attitudes Toward Risks, Strategic Uncertainty, and Competitiveness

Using a field experiment in China, we study whether migration status is correlated with attitudes toward risk, ambiguity, and competitiveness. Our subjects include migrants and non-migrants. We find that, migrants exhibit no differences from non-migrants in risk and ambiguity preferences elicited using pairs of lotteries ; however, migrants are significantly more likely to enter competition in the presence of strategic uncertainty when they expect competitive entries from others. Our results suggest that migration may be driven more by a stronger belief in one's ability to succeed in an uncertain and competitive environment than by risk attitudes under state uncertainty.

Changes In The Bargaining Power Of Chinese Migrant Workers And The Factors Enhancing Laborers Power

The shortage of migrant workers phenomenon is not only a reflection of the changing concept of occupation for Chinese migrant workers, but it also increases job opportunities for such workers. Migrant workers fight for higher wages through strikes and collective negotiations. These changes reflect the enhancement of the bargaining power of Chinese migrant workers.This paper explores the factors that enhance Chinese migrant workers bargaining power, uses a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation based on the analytic hierarchy process to assess the effect of various factors, and analyzes the positive and negative effects of enhancing the bargaining power. Finally, this paper predicts changes in the bargaining power of Chinese migrant workers and provides corresponding recommendations to protect their advantages.

Investigation and Analysis of Vocational Education for Chinese Migrant Workers of New Generation–Reflection from a Special Investigation in F City

The research has chosen some migrant workers of new generation from different fields in F City to investigate their current situation of vocational education. The research reveals that their education is helpful, mainly in employment, work and the methods of mentorship and further study organized by employers. The research also reveals its problems: short in training time, high in out-of-pocket payments for training, theoretical in training and no support from leaders, etc. We find vocational development is influenced by the factors of the government, employers, training institutions and workers themselves. Based on the analysis, suggestions are put forward: making laws and regulations, establishing specialized management institutions, running school in alliance with enterprises, carrying out the general training, combining lecture with practice, perfecting training system.

Chinese migrant workers’ adoption of urban consumer habits

The present research conducted semi-structured interviews with over 1,000 Chinese migrant workers to identify factors influencing their adoption of urban consumer habits. Research on habit formation finds the process to be effortful and resource depleting. Likewise, we predicted that migrant workers with greater resources would be more likely to adopt urban consumer habits. Resources were categorized as either internal (biological and cognitive) or external (social and economic) to the consumer. Using a structural equation model, cognitive and economic resources were found to have positive direct effects on habit adoption, while biological and social resources were found to have positive indirect effects on habit adoption, through cognitive and economic resources, respectively.

Generational Differences in Work Values, Perceived Job Rewards, and Job Satisfaction of Chinese Female Migrant Workers: Implications for Social Policy and Social Services

This cross-sectional survey study is a pioneering attempt to investigate the generational differences in the work values, perceived job rewards, and job satisfaction of Chinese female migrant workers. The study targeted two toy factories in the Guangdong Province of China and recruited a total of 1,307 female workers as participants. Among them were 577 female migrant workers who comprised the target group for this research. The authors hypothesized that the younger generation of female migrant workers would have higher levels of cognitive work values (such as self-enhancement and career development) but lower levels of perceived job rewards and job satisfaction than those of the older generation. The results indicate that there are no generational differences in work values among the three birth cohorts of Chinese female migrant workers. The older generation felt more satisfied with the job rewards that they received, and their sense of job satisfaction was higher than that of the younger generation. Furthermore, the findings showed a substantial positive influence of perceived social job rewards (such as support from co-workers and supervisors) on job satisfaction among the younger generation. The current findings suggest that in China, generational differences in work are affected by both the generation factor and the rural–urban stratification factor. The authors hope that the study will provide a knowledge base for understanding the perceptions of Chinese female migrant workers toward work and for exploring the ways in which new policies and social services can be developed in order to address their needs.

Winding Road Toward the Chinese Dream: The U-shaped Relationship Between Income and Life Satisfaction Among Chinese Migrant Workers

This study examines the relationship between income and subjective well-being among rural-to-urban migrant workers in China. Our analysis of a recent survey uncovered a U-shaped relationship between income and overall life satisfaction for migrant workers in Shanghai. Furthermore, the positive correlation is curvilinear, showing that increasing income yields diminishing returns. Drawing upon ethnographic literature concerning migrant workers, we suggest several possible explanations. For the poorest migrant workers, small increases in income are correlated with longer working hours and increased social comparison with their urban neighbors. After migrant workers’ income reaches a certain level, however, they are able to save money, giving them hope for future social mobility. Furthermore, migrant workers with disposable income can purchase status symbols, helping them to partially overcome their stigmatized status. The positive effect of income on life satisfaction eventually reaches a plateau, however, as even the wealthiest migrant workers find that they cannot surpass the limitations presented by their outsider identity and lack of an urban residence permit. Other findings include a negative relationship between income and income satisfaction and a positive relationship between education and income satisfaction. We conclude that the unique context surrounding Chinese migrant workers alters the typical effects of certain factors upon well-being and satisfaction.

‘Filial son’, the family and identity formation among male migrant workers in urban China

This article is based on an ethnographic study of life histories of 28 rural–urban (internal) migrant men located within southern China. It explores their narratives with a particular focus on changing social relations within the family, from the perspective of migrant sons. It argues that traditional gender norms, such as those attached to being a ‘filial son’, are lived out, albeit reworked, among Chinese male migrant workers across generations. The men recount the role of traditional familial gender norms, which are central cultural resources in forging their ‘dislocated’ identities within specific temporal and spatial conditions. For example, being a ‘filial son’ has become an important reference point for these mobile male workers to actively negotiate their emerging masculine identities in the process of negotiating urban lives, while living away from their rural homes. The article also explores a more complex understanding of rural–urban migration in terms of critically engaging with the men's well-being as urban workers.

The Formation Mechanism Research of Chinese Migrant Worker’s Entrepreneurial Growth in Chinese Context

The Formation Mechanism Research of Chinese Migrant Worker’s Entrepreneurial Growth in Chinese Context

Prevalence of psychological symptoms in contemporary Chinese rural-to-urban migrant workers: an exploratory meta-analysis of observational studies using the SCL-90-R

(1) To estimate the pooled prevalence of psychological symptoms in Chinese migrant workers (CMWs), as measured using the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) in observational studies conducted in China, and (2) to explore the potential variables associated with the SCL-90-R Global Severity Index (GSI), the overall mental health indicator of CMWs. We performed a comprehensive literature search of the major English and Chinese databases (to June 2012). Cross-sectional surveys and case-control studies of CMWs (and controls where appropriate) that reported at least one subscale score of the SCL-90-R were included. Multilevel meta-analysis was used to pool the symptom scores of cross-sectional surveys and mean differences of symptom scores ("Cohen's d" values) between CMWs and controls of case-control studies. Multilevel meta-analysis with ecological- or study-level covariates was used to explore the associations between variables and SCL-90-R GSI score. The search yielded 48 cross-sectional surveys (comprising 42,813 CMWs) and seven surveys that included control samples. The pooled psychological symptom scores (95% confidence interval) of CMWs were statistically higher than those of norms from Chinese general population on all scales of SCL-90-R, except for obsessive-compulsive subscale in study quality subgroup analysis. CMWs also scored statistically higher than those of urban counterpart controls on all scales of SCL-90-R. Multilevel regression meta-analysis model revealed that four covariates that accounted for 33.9% of SCL-90-R GSI heterogeneity across all surveys, including: "mean age of study sample," "geographic area," "per capita GDP," and "statutory minimum monthly wage" of study site in implementation year. CMWs have more severe psychological symptoms than the general population, and thus, appear to experience higher level of psychological distress. Macro-economic factors may have impact on the overall mental health of CMWs, but the factors that contribute to mental health and mental distress among CMWs remain to be explored and understood.

Experiences of forced labour amongst Chinese migrant workers: exploring the context of vulnerability and protection

This paper reports on a research project (funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, UK) which explored the experiences of forced labour amongst Chinese migrant workers in the North West of England. The explicit use of a community psychology approach enabled a working collaboration with a Chinese Social Enterprise (Wai Yin). The research focused on how workers dealt with their experiences leaving China, working in the UK and in relation to social support (relationships and families). The research involved working with Chinese native speakers and gatekeepers to access narratives of workers. Many of these were undocumented (illegal) workers who were seeking asylum. Thematic analysis was undertaken alongside collection of vignettes of individuals. The emotional aspects of moves between countries and cultures, and the balance between risk and protection are richly demonstrated, yet not dwelt upon by participants. The experiences of workers, their vulnerability to forced labour are theorised in terms of push and pull factors around leaving China, the importance of family and working in the UK. We note the absence of emotional articulation in the accounts, where sense-making of their situation is achieved pragmatically.

There Are a Thousand Hamlets in a Thousand People's Eyes

Focusing on Chinese migrant workers, our paper aims to bridge human resources management (HRM) literature and social identity literature by exploring possible sources of employees differences in their experiences of Human Resource (HR) practices and ultimately their work attitudes. Based on a dataset comprising 133 firms and 2, 225 migrant workers, we found that (1) employees perceived HR practices mediated the relationship between firm intended HR practices and employee job satisfaction and affective commitment; (2) that migrant workers social identities had a direct impact on their perceptions of HR practices; and (3) that their social identities moderated the relationship between firm intended HR practices and their own perceptions. Important theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Learning the knacks of actually existing capitalism: Young Beijing migrants and the problem of value

Chinese migrant workers make up the key manual workforce of global capitalist production, but they are barely integrated into either Chinese state narratives or global capitalism’s self-representation. In Chinese they are known as the floating population because they dwell outside the modernist state grid and remain largely unrecognised by the state. This article addresses the labour experiences and developmental aspirations of young Beijing migrants. While they are shown to frame development in the terminology used in state policies, I argue that state conceptions of ideal citizenship are in fact felt to be of little relevance. Their struggle to develop is better understood in relation to a materialist logic of sale of labour, imprinting upon them that their wages equal their worth. To appreciate their aspirations, I argue, we should realise that migrant workers were never successfully integrated into state ideology and therefore restore attention to the subjectivising effects of the labour market.

Transformational leadership and the work outcomes of Chinese migrant workers: The mediating effects of identification with leader

This study examines the mediating influence of identification with leader on the relationship between follower perceptions of transformational leadership behavior and their work outcomes, using data obtained from migrant workers and their supervisors in a large manufacturing company located in south-eastern China. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that transformational leadership was positively related to the affective commitment and job performance of followers, and negatively related to their turnover intentions. In contrast, no significant influence was found of transformational leadership on the innovative behavior of followers. Subsequent analysis revealed that identification with leader mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and follower attitudes, but did not mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and follower job performance. These findings highlight the importance of cultural and wider contextual influences on the processes by which leadership impacts on the work outcomes of migrant workers in the Chinese manufacturing industry. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for future research provided.

Bringing class back in: class consciousness and solidarity among Chinese migrant workers in Italy and the UK

The growing literature on international migration has a tendency to emphasize homogenous elements such as shared ethnic background, social network and cultural similarities in shaping immigrants' identity. We argue that this underestimates the differences (and sometimes conflicts) of interests between ethnic employers and migrant workers and that class needs to be brought back into the studies of ethnic relationship. Based upon findings from a series of fieldwork in Veneto, Italy and East Midlands, UK, this article contends that class consciousness has co-existed, sometimes uneasily, alongside co-ethnic and cultural relationships among Chinese migrant workers and has played an important part in the making of new Chinese communities. By analysing the perspectives of Chinese migrant workers and their relationship with co-ethnic entrepreneurs, this article illustrates complex factors behind the formation, diffusion and development of class consciousness among Chinese migrant workers.

Relationships Between Social Support Cognition Types and Family Resource Management of Chinese Migrant Workers

In this study, we analyzed the relationship between social support cognition types and family resource management. Participants were 501 migrant workers in Suzhou, China. The results indicated that: (a) migrant workers with different social support cognition types reported significant differences in their family resource management, (b) migrant workers with different demographic variables reported significant differences in their social support cognition types, and (c) certain demographic variables and social support cognition Type II significantly predicted family resource management.

Application of Community-Based Participatory Research Principles: Preventing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Female Korean–Chinese Migrant Workers in Korea

Application of Community-Based Participatory Research Principles: Preventing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Female Korean–Chinese Migrant Workers in Korea