Local work

She said the ministry has also urged migrant workers to find jobs in or near their hometowns. That would made it possible for some to work "on their own doorsteps", instead of traveling long distances.

In April, Luo Damei, a resident of Sangzhi county, Hunan province, found a job in her hometown as a tea picker at a white tea producer, aided by the local human resources department.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the 60-year-old had worked at a textiles factory in Fujian province for nine years, earning 6,000 to 8,000 yuan a month.

This year, the outbreak saw the factory's orders fall, which resulted in fewer people being hired and lower salaries being offered.

Given her age and realizing that she might be at a disadvantage to younger people in the job market－competition is far fiercer this year－Luo decided to act on local officials' suggestions and look for work nearer home.

In recent years, Sangzhi's white tea industry has developed quickly, leading to higher demand for workers, so Luo quickly landed a job.

Starting work at 6 am and ending at about 7 pm, she gets two or three hours of rest after midday and is paid 14 yuan for every kilogram of fresh tea she picks. She can earn at least 2,000 yuan a month this way.

Her husband, who worked with her in Fujian, is now employed at a construction site near their home, earning 2,500 yuan a month.

While their combined income doesn't compare with their earnings as migrant workers, Luo is still content.

"My current income is OK, considering that this year has been so unusual. Also, my workplace is now just a few minutes from home and the cost of living is much lower than in Fujian," she said.

"What's more, I'm no longer young and the high wages I earned by continuous hard work outside couldn't last forever. It was time to come home."