**Dozens of Merchants Go on Strike in NanTong over Rent Hike**
On February 25th and 26th, 62 merchants in the pork sales area of the HuSuTong Agricultural Product Wholesale Market in Chongchuan District, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province went on strike to protest against the market’s rent increase, further burdening struggling businesses.
The HuSuTong Agricultural Product Wholesale Market, owned by the Nantong HuSuTong Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., was established in 2023 with the leading investment from the Coastal Group. It covers an area of 206 mu, with a total construction area of 166,000 square meters and a total investment of 650 million yuan. Its main business includes wholesale and retail of seafood, meat, frozen products, and other goods.
Over the course of two consecutive days, a total of 62 pork sales stalls participated in the strike. One of the merchants, Zhao Mei (pseudonym), informed the reporter that on February 20th, the merchants received a sudden notice to participate in a bidding process or leave voluntarily, as their contract was set to expire on February 28th. The key reason for their resistance to the bidding process was the skyrocketing stall rental fees.
Zhao Mei explained that they were relocated from the original agricultural product market to HuSuTong three years ago. She has been in the pork business for over a decade. In the previous market, the annual rent was 30,000 yuan; in the first year at HuSuTong, it increased to 48,000 yuan, in the second year to 50,000 yuan, and this year, the third year, the rent has surged to 68,000 yuan. Merchants were already dissatisfied with this increase but thought they could manage it. However, they did not anticipate the additional bidding process.
“As a starting price of 68,000 yuan, and then bidding to a maximum of three times that amount. Currently, one stall has been bid to 250,000 yuan, with one starting at 98,000 yuan and reaching a high price of 290,000 yuan. We had to take action (strike) because the current situation is tough; no one has money, ourselves included. Without business, we cannot make money,” Zhao Mei stated.
The strike by the merchants is ongoing, with no response yet from the market management. Zhao Mei emphasized that their pork sales area was the first to strike and they are determined to continue until the end, for survival.
Efforts to reach the HuSuTong Market for comments were unsuccessful; no one answered the phone.
**Challenges Faced Post Chinese New Year in China**
The beginning of the new year in China, post-Chinese New Year, should be a time for new beginnings and celebrations. However, this year has seen a different story unfold, filled with closures, unemployment, and a return to hometowns, as reflected on social media platforms.
Across platforms like TikTok, bloggers showcase desolate malls, vacant storefronts, and closures—a stark contrast to the once-thriving scenes. The clothing market struggles to attract customers, making it difficult to operate. The number of job seekers far exceeds available positions, reflecting the challenging economic climate.
Zhao Mei lamented, “People have little money in their hands these days. Everyone is counting every penny to make ends meet, as pockets seem cleaner than faces. Even slightly more expensive vegetables are difficult to sell. Only cabbage and radishes sell well due to their low prices.”
She added that after three years of the pandemic, surrounding restaurants managed to survive last year but are now facing closure, directly impacting their pork sales.
“Business is even worse this year than last year. Last year, you could make a profit of 10% on a 100-yuan sale; this year, you might not even make half of that since there are no customers. When restaurants close, we suffer the consequences as well.”
陳昊 (pseudonym), a tour guide from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, shared his disappointment during the Chinese New Year period. While the festivity traditionally brings good earning opportunities for him, this year has been disheartening. Generally, he stays in Shenzhen to lead groups and earn throughout the holidays until the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year. However, this year has been different—he has only led two groups so far. One group consisted of Hong Kong tourists who tipped reasonably well, but domestic tourists are currently not tipping at all.
“Without groups, there’s no money. With the economy doing poorly, people are reluctant to travel during the New Year period. Leading just two groups has not generated enough income to cover my social security and rent payments. This year is tough!” he remarked.
He noted the current emptiness on Shenzhen’s streets, a far cry from its former liveliness. People rush by, catching buses, delivering takeout, and even motorcyclists speeding past. Many shops on the sides of the streets have shut down, some up for transfer or lying vacant. An air of leisurely strolls is difficult to spot, diminishing the overall happiness index of life in Shenzhen.
方明 (pseudonym), a labor intermediary from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, shared insights into the challenging job market. He noted the oversupply of job seekers compared to the limited job opportunities, indicating that factories hiring workers are scarce, with hundreds of applicants for just a few positions.
He remarked, “If you haven’t come to Hangzhou yet, it’s better not to come now. Most companies have already filled their positions. Those still recruiting are facing the challenge of selecting candidates from hundreds of applicants. Moving forward, companies are saturated, and those still being selective or sitting at home should embrace a laid-back approach.”
Numerous netizens have also taken to social media to recount their difficulties this year.
One user, “往後餘生,” shared, “I used to earn over ten thousand yuan per month working at a construction site. This year, with no work at the site, I’ve taken up a cashier position at my cousin’s supermarket.”
Another remarked, “Many people are truly unemployed. At the beginning of this year, nothing’s going right; there are no opportunities.”
A user named “豫見” expressed, “On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, I came to Guangdong to find work, spent all my 1200 yuan, and after two weeks of searching, none of the six factories I approached were willing to hire me. I bought a train ticket back home with just 10 yuan left; it’s tough!”
“Construction sites go from starting work to halt within moments. As the Lunar New Year draws to a close, and work is yet to resume, where can these workers, who depend on construction sites, turn to?” queried one user.
“For the first time in over a decade, I struggle to find work. It gets harder with each passing year,” expressed another netizen.
Yet another added, “I’m heading back; a ten-day trip in Guangzhou has ended. It’s hard to find work, and the pay is low.”
A user with the handle “鄭怪可愛的” painted a stark picture of Shanghai’s job market, stating, “The employment scenario in Shanghai is a dire beginning. 95s who once had monthly salaries exceeding tens of thousands in internet giants now face layoffs in large numbers. Finding a job is tougher than finding a partner, and there seems to be little hope for the future.”
“Small silk melon garment factory specialist pants” commented, “In Guangzhou, rental properties remain unoccupied, heralding a wave of closures. Physical stores shutting down are suffering losses, prompting many to return to their hometowns to start businesses, leading to a situation where houses in Guangzhou cannot be rented out, causing many bosses to silently exit.”
山東金寶 echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Beijing streets are filled with closed shops up for rent. It’s challenging to survive in any industry at the moment. The harsh reality is, don’t be too eager to become a boss.”