New Coronary Pneumonia: Hesitation and Struggle for Rework of 400,000 Taiwanese Working in Mainland China

New Coronary Pneumonia: Hesitation and Struggle for Rework of 400,000 Taiwanese Working in Mainland China

The new coronavirus epidemic continued. Reworkers in mainland China were stranded in their hometowns and were unable to rework. Businesses were delayed and several factories were temporarily closed.

According to Chinese officials, the average daily number of tourists is 13.48 million, a decrease of 80% from last year; migrant workers return to work before the end of February, and the number of students returning to school before the end of March.

About 400,000 Taiwanese working on the mainland are struggling with whether or not to return to work, and some even think of leaving.

Five western Taiwanese told the BBC Chinese that the epidemic had an impact on their life, work, and career choices. The common point is that family and friends are advised to leave and leave China. Some people choose to stay in the mainland, but when they return to work.

"If you go back to Beijing, you might just wait for death!" Pin Yan, who returned to Taiwan for the Spring Festival, told the BBC Chinese about her family's important words to her. There have been several disputes with parents about whether to return to Beijing to return to work.

Pin Yan said that her family was concerned that if she was infected in Beijing, the local medical resources would be insufficient, and "may not be able to return to Taiwan, she would have to wait and die there."

Originally going to return to Beijing on January 29, Pinyan continuously changed her ticket due to cold symptoms and the company announced that she would postpone the resumption of work. Later, she simply refunded the ticket.

Now she is struggling with whether to return to Beijing.

The family was worried about her health and wanted her to leave her job and return to Taiwan. However, she believes that if she resigns due to the epidemic, it seems unreasonable, and she does not want to give up her opportunity in Beijing, and prefers to stay in Beijing.

She hopes to be able to return to Beijing by the end of February, "for which she can only continue to communicate with her family."

Also being advised by family and friends to leave are Liu Kezhen and Ma Yuchen who are still in Taipei, both of whom work in Shanghai.

Liu Kezhen said that his family asked him to consider leaving, but the company ’s Greater China headquarters is located in Shanghai, while Taipei is a regional department, so there is a big gap between salary and welfare and career development. Although he likes the living environment in Taipei, but comprehensive The lack of foreign business positions and other factors, after several considerations, I still want to stay in Shanghai.

"The company is allowed to work from home until the end of February, because European executives have not yet returned to Shanghai," Liu Kezhen has not yet determined when to return to Shanghai, and the current plan is to return in mid-March.

Another Taiwanese working in Shanghai, her mother also constantly advised not to return to work for the time being.

Ma Yuzhen, 27, told BBC Chinese that her mother told her: "The epidemic has not eased. If the company forces you to go back, leave."

In the hearts of parents around the world, Ma Yudi understood her mother's concerns and agreed with her. She explained that in addition to her lack of confidence in Chinese medical care, China's information is not transparent enough, so "I don't know what is true and what is false", which is reassuring.

Currently Ma Yuzheng has not yet determined when to return to work, but because many countries have imposed travel bans on Chinese citizens, her Chinese colleagues cannot travel, so the company hopes that she will stay in Taiwan and travel to other countries instead of colleagues.

Family meeting decides wife to stay in Taiwan

Mr. Li, who is in charge of managing a Taiwan-funded factory in Hebei Province, has not yet returned to Taiwan because of the pneumonia epidemic. He also held several "family meetings" and eventually decided to leave his wife and children in Taiwan temporarily.

Mr. Li's entire family has been working and living in Shijiazhuang for more than a year. When he returned to Taiwan this year, he encountered a pneumonia epidemic, and decided not to return to the mainland for the time being.

"The factory over there is expected to start on February 24. There are local employees in charge of the local management. The Taiwanese have not yet returned." Mr. Li plans to return to China by himself when the epidemic eases, and for the sake of safety, his wife, Children stay in Taiwan.

"I'm studying in Taiwan this semester, so don't pass it first." Mr. Li's child is studying in kindergarten. He is not assured of the quality of medical care in China.

Mr. Li described his previous experience of seeing a doctor. He told the BBC Chinese: "Going to the clinic to see a doctor does not even have an auscultation. Compared with Taiwan, he will feel more sloppy. It will take a whole day to see a doctor at a large hospital."

The new crown virus epidemic also made him rethink whether he would stay on the mainland in the future. However, some Taiwanese have returned to jobs in mainland China.

Of the five Taiwanese interviewed by the BBC in China, only one has returned to China. However, according to the China News Agency, some Taiwanese companies based in the mainland have gradually resumed work and resumed production. For example, the return rate of Taiwanese-funded enterprises in Beijing and the return rate of Taiwanese businessmen to Taiwan are around 70%.

Reworked Taiwanese

Pan Junhong, who works for a foreign start-up company in Shanghai, just hung up his father's phone call from Taipei before being interviewed by the BBC Chinese. He said, "My dad is nervous, worried that my food and masks are enough?"

On February 15th, Pan Honghong, who returned from Shanghai to Taipei, said that some people on the flight were particularly nervous and thoughtful in their protection. "People on the plane all wore masks, and some also wore raincoats and goggles.

He described that the atmosphere at Shanghai Airport is not the same as usual. In addition to the temperature of passengers entering the airport, the airport personnel are trembling and fully armed to wear a full set of protective equipment.

Pan Junhong, who was originally expected to return to Shanghai on February 10, delayed the flight by five days. After returning to Shanghai, the company considered that the epidemic situation was still severe and hoped that he would work from home. But he believes: "The Taiwan media described the situation in Shanghai as a bit too serious, and when I came back, I didn't think it was as exaggerated as everyone thought."

He told the BBC Chinese that the residence is close to Shanghai Xintiandi Shopping Center, and only 1/5 of the usual crowds remain on the street, but most chain supermarkets and stores are open, and some restaurants are closed because employees have not returned to work.

According to media reports, more than 10,000 residential quarters in Shanghai have implemented closed management and adopted entrance and exit management measures.

Pan Junhong is still free to come in and go out and buy daily necessities. But regarding local medical treatment, he said, "Of course it can't be compared with Taiwan. The Taiwan system is relatively sound, but I have commercial medical insurance here, so I don't have to worry about it." As for the quality of medical treatment on the mainland, he thinks it is acceptable.

The global database site Numbeo announced the 2020 Health Care Index rankings. Taiwan ranked first with 86.71 points, South Korea ranked second, and Japan ranked third. CEOWORLD Magazine's 2019 edition of the Medical Care Index Survey, Taiwan also ranks first in 89 countries and regions.

Pan Junhong said that he never thought about whether he would leave China due to the epidemic. He explained to the BBC Chinese that although Taiwan and China have similar job opportunities, there is still poor salary, benefits and development space.

"I am a grass-roots employee of the company, and my salary is at least 3 to 4 times higher than the same position in Taiwan."

Taiwanese planning to return home

Pan Junhong and most Taiwanese still choose to stay because they are optimistic about the future development of mainland China. However, according to a recent survey by the Taiwanese Human Resources Bank, more than 60% of Taiwanese who work in the mainland and intend to change jobs choose not to return to China, of which up to 90% have decided to return to Taiwan, and about 10% have to be transferred to Southeast Asia.

Jin Liming, senior deputy general manager of Taiwan 104 hunting talents, once analyzed to the media that the pneumonia epidemic has intensified, causing Taiwanese to feel insecure when working and living in China. Coupled with the fact that China's management positions have begun to localize, the general manufacturing industry in the world is shifting to Southeast Asia and other places, and Taiwan's talents are returning to the south and ASEAN countries have become a trend.

However, she also mentioned that Taiwan's catering and tourism industry cannot be exempted from the wholesale and retail business affected by the epidemic. Therefore, if talents in this industry want to return to Taiwan, job opportunities are not ideal.

In addition, salaries and benefits back to Taiwan may also decline. Taiwan's "Foresight Magazine" has reported that the average salary of the managerial ranks of China's four major accounting firms has fallen between 30,000 to 40,000 yuan. 16,000 yuan), more than twice the difference.