The video about the girls is viewed hundreds of thousands of times, with thousands of comments. After visiting their home village for Chinese New Year, parents go back to work in the big cities. China has some 286 million migrant workers and at least 61 million children are "left behind" by their parents. For one commentator, “The parents of the girls are also weeping in their heart”.
Beijing (AsiaNews) – A video clip showing three girls begging their migrant worker parents not to leave for their jobs in the city has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, eliciting thousands of comments.
The footage was shot in the village of Jiatui in Rongjiang county, Guizhou, one of China’s poorest provinces.
Yelling “Don’t go, Mum,” the youngest of the three girls hangs onto her mother’s hands as the latter tries to console her.
In the video, the father can be heard saying, “We have to leave the village to work and earn money” and “We leave them to be taken care of by my parents.”
The same story is repeated every year at the end of Chinese New Year holidays. Many migrant workers in the city return to their villages of origin during the holiday, but then have to return to work, leaving their children with their grandparents and often alone.
China has about 286 million migrant workers, according to official figures; and at least 61 million children are "left behind" by their parents.
Upon viewing the video on Qq.com, thousands of people left comments. “Earning 5,000 yuan [US0] a month in a city far away from your hometown is not as good as earning 3,000 yuan in your hometown. Especially for those with kids,” wrote one commentator.
“The parents of the girls are also weeping in their heart,” wrote another.
To see the video, click here.