My name is Hu Bin, a sanitation worker in Bayi Square, and I am 58 years old.
After graduating from college, I was assigned to a mining facility, where I met my wife. Shortly after, I moved to work in Dongguan, since there were many opportunities there at that time. In Dongguan, I explored various positions, including serving in a restaurant, working in an electronic factory, and even becoming a white-collar worker. However, it was hard to earn a lot of money in any of these positions. After that, I decided to start my own business modifying cell phones. I was able to make some money, but after the ban on modified cell phones, I had a large batch of goods that I couldn’t sell and lost a lot of money. After that, when I was working as a cleaner in a restaurant, my wife was diagnosed with cirrhosis, meaning that her liver was severely scarred. With no money for treatment, she passed away soon after. Thinking back, it was quite a desperate time.
Two years later, when the COVID pandemic had just ended, I saw healthcare workers on TV. Seeing the significant contributions they made to the country, I was inspired to follow and give back to society. However, it was hard to find jobs after the pandemic and I didn’t have any academic qualifications. A relative then introduced me to the job of sanitation workers, which, at that time, faced a shortage of employees. By keeping the city clean and tidy, sanitation workers can contribute to society, making this job appealing to me.
Sanitation is the most exhausting job I've ever had. We have to get up very early in the morning and leave work very late at night. In the summer, we have to endure the scorching sun every day, and in winter, it's so cold in the morning that we can hardly get up. On top of that, there is often an endless amount of trash to sweep in the plaza. Just after I finish sweeping one area, there might be fallen leaves or people casually littering in another area. Sometimes, we may be given extra tasks, but the extra pay is minimal. For example, we might be tasked to change the flowers in the flower beds, but squatting down the entire time can be very tiring.
This city brings me both joy and pain. Once, a student brought me water during a charity event at Bayi Square, which I was very touched by. However, some people are not very friendly to sanitation workers. I once spotted a plastic bottle on the main road, and because I was afraid that something would happen if people didn’t see it, I walked on the main road to take it away. But as I went to pick it up, I got in the way of a driver, and he stuck his head out of the window and scolded me. He didn't realize what I was doing, and despite my explanation later, he continued his reprimanding. Our pay isn’t that great either, and we even had our pay docked sometimes after receiving complaints.
At the end of the day, what I am most proud of is that my son is studying at university. I feel that with a degree, it will be easy to find a more comfortable job and my family won't have to worry about money anymore.
- Hu Bin
China
Interviewee | 胡彬
Interviewer | 胥智
Editor | Rosabel & Kendra
Translator | 孙逸铭 & Candace
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