In China, deletion of migrant worker film sparks anger

'Working Like This for 30 Years' documentary contradicts Beijing's economic narrative

A migrant worker dismantles scaffolding at a construction site in Beijing. © Reuters

MARRIAN ZHOU, Nikkei staff writer

January 13, 2024 23:06 JST

NEW YORK -- A short documentary about struggling Chinese migrant workers in Hefei province released Monday by Wangyi News was promptly taken down by the audio-visual platform Bilibili the following day, igniting a backlash online.

The 12-minute film, "Working Like This for 30 Years," which was also taken off the microblogging site Weibo, offers a rare glimpse into the lives of aging migrant workers struggling to secure a day's wages.