By Steven shi
Wuxi - February 2 – IJS-Global -During Chinese New Year, when most people are eager to go home and have a family reunion, some people are still working and far away from home.
While others are visiting relatives and enjoying the feasts, they are still carrying passengers through streets and lanes. In some areas in mainland China, their vehicle is called “San Lun Che,” which means trishaw.
A trishaw driver in the Qianqiao town. Photo by Steven shi
Qianqiao, a town belonging to the city of Wuxi, is a traditional town like thousands of others Chinese small towns. In Qianqiao there are at least 100 trishaws, whose operators are all migrant workers. They provide a convenient way for the residents to go around, especially when the bus is not available and a taxi is too expensive.
Wang Hui, a 40-year-old from Anhui province, has been a trishaw driver for five years.
“When I arrived in Wuxi, I became a trishaw driver.” he said.
When referring to the Spring Festival, the Chinese traditional reunion period, Wang said he never goes back home during Chinese New Year.
“During Chinese New Year, there are too many people and it’s too crowded. Usually I go home at the harvest time when help is needed in my home town,” he said.
Also there is another reason why Wang is staying in Wuxi. His wife was working during the Lunar New Year’s Eve.
“So we don’t have time to go back.” Wang said.
Wuxi trishaw driver Wang Hui, 40, is one migrant worker unable to travel home for the Spring Holidays. Photo by Steven Shi.
Actually there are hundreds and thousands of migrant workers in almost every field in Wuxi. Why did Wang choose to be a trishaw driver?
He replied, “As a trishaw driver, one thing is good; the flexible working hours. We can arrange the time as we want. That’s why we can go home during the harvest time. That is impossible if I work in factory.”
Usually a five minutes trip with the trishaw costs three to five yuan (about US$0.5 to 0.7) depending on the distance. The trishaw drivers need to hand in some money to the local government around 4,000 to 5,000 yuan (about US$585 to 730) a year.
Wang said that he makes over 10,000 yuan (about US$1,460) which is enough for his living.
Most of the trishaw drivers are male because it is a tough labor. But there are also several female trishaw drivers in Qianqiao. Lai Feng is one of these female drivers.
Lai Feng, a 40-year-old from Huaibei, Anhui province, has also been a trishaw driver for five years.
“I certainly want to go home during the Spring Festival. But it was too difficult to buy a ticket so I gave up. Almost every year I stay in Wuxi.” Lai said.
Lai’s husband is also a trishaw driver. Every year, Lai and her husband spend Spring Festival in Wuxi.
Wuxi trishaw driver Lai Feng, 40, is one migrant worker unable to travel home for the Spring Holidays. Photo by Steven Shi.
”Now the business continues to be slow. We earn less and less each year. Too many cars, buses and electric motor cars make the living room for us smaller,” Lai added.
But she admitted that being a trishaw driver there is no other choice.
“I am an illiterate. I don’t know what to do if I lose this job,” she said.
According to the latest report nearly 20 million migrant workers could lose their jobs this year. What will Wang and Lai’s future be like? No one knows.
Trishaw drivers are waiting for the passengers in Qianqiao town. Photo by Steven shi
