Reunions postponed: China migrant workers caught on wrong side of Covid-19 | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
May 28, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025
Reunions postponed: China migrant workers caught on wrong side of Covid-19

Coronavirus chronicle

Reuters
12 February, 2021, 04:35 pm
Last modified: 12 February, 2021, 04:42 pm

Related News

  • Bangladeshi mangoes enter Chinese markets to boost bilateral trade: Ambassador Yao
  • Residents pick up the pieces one day after deadly China chemical blast
  • Mango exports to China begins tomorrow
  • Weak Chinese demand leaves Australia with too much wheat
  • China explores cross-border trade cooperation with Bangladesh

Reunions postponed: China migrant workers caught on wrong side of Covid-19

The government, worried about the spread of infections during the annual rush, has urged people not to travel this year, appealing to their sense of civic duty

Reuters
12 February, 2021, 04:35 pm
Last modified: 12 February, 2021, 04:42 pm
Workers travel home on a shuttle bus in Beijing, China, January 31, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
Workers travel home on a shuttle bus in Beijing, China, January 31, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

In the past decade, Wang Yunxia, 30, spent her adult life largely on a factory floor in southern Guangdong, far away from her daughter in central China, and even farther away from her husband in Beijing, where he was also a migrant worker.

The family would gather once a year to celebrate Lunar New Year, whether at their village in the province of Hubei, or elsewhere.

"It doesn't matter where," Wang said quietly. "When we're together, we're family, we're home."

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

This year, for the first time, Wang is spending the Spring Festival away from her daughter as the couple heed China's call to its migrant workers, numbering a few hundred million, to stay put after a spate of coronavirus infections over the winter.

"Ever since the birth of our daughter, at least one parent had to be around with her on New Year's Eve," she said.

"That's usually me."

Wang had already missed out on an annual pilgrimage to pay her respects at her grandparents' graves, usually just before the Lunar New Year, which began on Friday.

"I'd told my mother to burn more joss paper for them, on my behalf," she said, when Reuters visited her home in the capital, Beijing.

Ordinarily, Wang and her husband would be among the tide of migrant workers braving packed trains to return home.

But the government, worried about the spread of infections during the annual rush, has urged people not to travel this year, appealing to their sense of civic duty.

At the same time, railway schedules have been slashed and village authorities ordered to monitor the health of those returning home, with at least one virus test after arrival. Some villages have even gone into lockdown.

Wang Haiyang, 58, a construction worker who chose to stay in Beijing, was concerned about catching the virus on his way back to Liaoning province in the far northeast.

"There's no virus in my hometown, so I'm afraid I might bring it back," said Wang, who had a virtual reunion with his family through a video call instead.

Those determined to get home face costly train tickets amid reduced supply. Some will carpool. The desperate will resort to illegal buses.

Ties That Bind

For Wang, after the virus outbreak, family ties have become more important than ever.

In August, she left Guangdong to join her husband, Yang Nianlian, 33.

In the day, she worked odd jobs to try make ends meet, while he toiled 12-hour shifts as a security guard.

At the end of his shift, returning home, he would bathe his wife's feet in a pink plastic basin, in an unbreakable ritual.

They would then take turns washing each other's hair in the narrow courtyard of their brick compound shared with a few other families, enjoying their fleeting moments together, until the new year reunion with their daughter.

Struck by nostalgia this year, Wang had thought of steaming a pig's head, a traditional dish in her village, on the eve of Lunar New Year.

But unable to find a vessel big enough, she fell back on hot pot - a spicy staple in Hubei cuisine - of salted chicken, pepper and some duck leg.

Yang recalled the questions his daughter would bombard him with: Was it tiring in Beijing? What did you do the whole year? What did you eat?

"Each time I'm back home, she'd run around, curious about every detail of my work in Beijing, and would tell me not to tire myself too much," he said.

On Thursday, the couple made a WeChat video call home.

Their nine-year-old daughter, racing through her midday meal, raised a glass of water in a silent toast to her parents.

All too familiar with the pangs of absence, Yang was overcome with emotion.

His grandparents had cared for Yang in his youth when his parents worked away from home, just as his wife's parents now look after his daughter.

"A dream of mine is to work hard in the city and earn as much money as I can, for my family, for my child," a teary-eyed Yang said, his arm draped over his wife's shoulder, as if searching for her support.

"But today I feel like I've let them down somehow."

World+Biz

China / migrant worker / COVID-19

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Leaders and activists of BNP gather at Nayapaltan ahead of the rally of three BNP affiliated organisations on Wednesday, 28 May 2025. Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    ​​​​​​​Deliberate stalling of election part of plan to derail democratic process: Tarique at BNP rally
  • File Photo: Reuters
    Bangladeshi cos expecting increased costs due to tariffs, yet extremely optimistic about int'l growth: HSBC survey
  • Photo: Collected
    HC overturns graft convictions of Tarique, Zubaida

MOST VIEWED

  • Selim RF Hussain. Sketch: TBS
    BRAC Bank MD Selim RF Hussain resigns
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Depositors need not worry as govt will take over banks before merger: BB governor
  • Graphics: TBS
    Suspicious banking activities surge by 56% since July: Cenbank
  • Photo: Collected
    DU student assaulted for protesting eve-teasing at Chadni Chowk
  • Illustration: TBS
    Bangladesh sees highest-ever per capita income of $2,820 in FY25, BBS provisional data shows
  • Officials protest inside the Secretariat on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, over a government ordinance amending the Public Service Act, 2018. Photo: Rajib Dhar
    Protest at Secretariat suspended as govt assures decision on ordinance tomorrow

Related News

  • Bangladeshi mangoes enter Chinese markets to boost bilateral trade: Ambassador Yao
  • Residents pick up the pieces one day after deadly China chemical blast
  • Mango exports to China begins tomorrow
  • Weak Chinese demand leaves Australia with too much wheat
  • China explores cross-border trade cooperation with Bangladesh

Features

In recent years, the Gor-e-Shaheed Eidgah has emerged as a strong contender for the crown of the biggest Eid congregation in the country, having hosted 600,000 worshippers in 2017. Photo: TBS

Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath: The heart of Dinajpur

1d | Panorama
The Hili Land Port, officially opened in 1997 but with trade roots stretching back to before Partition, has grown into a cornerstone of bilateral commerce.

Dhaka-Delhi tensions ripple across Hili’s markets and livelihoods

2d | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Desk goals: Affordable ways to elevate your study setup

3d | Brands
Built on a diamond-type frame, the Hornet 2.0 is agile but grounded. PHOTO: Asif Chowdhury

Honda Hornet 2.0: Same spirit, upgraded sting

3d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Poor documentation, evidence plague stolen asset recovery efforts

Poor documentation, evidence plague stolen asset recovery efforts

13m | TBS Insight
Donald Trump warns Vladimir Putin he is 'playing with fire' over Ukraine

Donald Trump warns Vladimir Putin he is 'playing with fire' over Ukraine

1h | TBS World
Families of those injured and martyred in the July coup protest in the capital

Families of those injured and martyred in the July coup protest in the capital

1h | TBS Today
Trump administration suspends student visas in the US indefinitely

Trump administration suspends student visas in the US indefinitely

2h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net