Migrant Uygurs assemble success
- Source: Xinhua
- [08:56 July 20 2009]
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According to local officials in Shufu, the average per-capita yearly income in the agricultural county is 2,500 yuan ($360), which is about two months' salary for a migrant worker.
A massive brawl in the toy factory, where the Uygur migrant workers work in Shaoguan, left two Uygur employees dead and more than 100 injured on June 26.
The brawl allegedly sparked the bloody July 5 riot in the Xinjiang regional capital of Urumqi, in which 197 people died and more than 1,700 were injured.
According to police, an unsubstantiated posting on the Internet saying six Xinjiang boys raped two girls at the factory caused the brawl.
Two people have been detained on charges of fabricating and spreading the rumors.
Muhetaer, a 20-year-old Uygur man working in the factory, said he would stay on despite the incident.
"I will continue to work in the factory. I can get my pay on time here every month. My parents are happy that I am now able to support them," said Muhetaer, who sent 1,500 yuan home this week.
Coastal cities like Shaoguan are seeing more ethnic arrivals from inland regions. About 1.5 million migrant workers of different ethnic groups work in Guangdong , according to the provincial government.
"About 100,000 people of different ethnic groups leave Xinjiang for city jobs every year, Nur Bekri, chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region government, said at the weekend.
"The job offers are accepted on the principle of free will. The local labor departments consult the parents of young people wanting to do migrant jobs," he said.
Many local governments organize free technology and language training courses to prepare minority people for migrant jobs, he said.
"The regional government spends 300 to 400 million yuan a year to provide the free courses," Bekri said.
"Migrant workers from Xinjiang may take some time to get accustomed to city jobs. Local governments may take some measures out of concern for their safety, such as buying group tickets for travel," he said.
He said worker's skills face challenges in a market economy.
"People in Xinjiang need to improve their skills to get accustomed to market changes," he said.