These young men work for a small restaurant near my home. Like thousands of others, they move to the big city from homes in China's vast rural areas. In a restaurant like the one where these boys work, most employees earn $80 to $120 a month, barely enough to survive in Beijing. Cooks tend to be older and do better financially. The restaurant also gives the boys two or possibly three meals a day, the quality of which depend entirely upon the generosity of the owner. The employer may (or may not) provide a room or rooms for staff members to sleep in, usually four to eight per room. Hours are long - first a lunch shift, then a break until late afternoon when the dinner shift begins and continues until the restaurant closes. Most small places have no fixed hours, they close when the last customer leaves. Some employers give staff one day off each week, but many do not. Employees often get one or two days a month. Of course, given the low wages, these workers have virtually no disposable income for entertainment in any case. And you thought your job was crummy... |