Guangdong labor supply tight as migrant workers return to Sichuan

Manufacturers in Guangdong fear worsening labor shortages as migrant workers from Sichuan province head home to search for family and friends affected by the recent devastating earthquake, the South China Morning Post reported. "Pressure on labor supply is rising, especially in Shenzhen and Dongguan," said Lawrence Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Toys Council. "The situation is getting worse because the peak season is coming up soon." Toy factories tend to hire thousands of extra workers in the summer as they crank up production to meet the September and October shipment deadlines so goods can be on shop shelves in time for Christmas. Coming on the heels of heavy snowstorms earlier this year, the earthquake represents an additional challenge for manufacturers chasing a diminishing pool of workers.