Factories in China's coastal provinces are attracting an increasing number of migrant workers from the country's northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

These migrant workers say they are enjoying life there, although they are not quite used to the language, food and customs in the coastal areas.

The Xuri Toy Factory in Shaoguan of south China's Guangdong Province is a Hong Kong-funded enterprise.

The factory has more than 10,000 employees from all around the country, including some 700 from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Most of the migrant workers from Xinjiang received training in their hometowns before coming to work in the coastal region.

Three weeks ago, a dispute among workers here led to a fight involving hundreds of people. The brawl left two dead and nearly 120 injured.

Bayi Akem is one of the workers from Xinjiang. He says he had some quarrels with his coworkers when he first started working at the factory. But soon he realized the arguments were just misunderstandings.

He says he now enjoys life in the factory very much.

"The factory has provided us with thoughtful arrangements, including accommodations and meals. It takes good care of us. We, all the workers from Xinjiang, lead a pleasant life here."

Working far from home, the migrant workers note they sometimes get homesick. But they say working here has its benefits. The income they earn in the coastal areas is several times what they earn at home. What's more, they improve their skills through the training they receive in the factories.

Shariu Asezi, a worker from southern Xinjiang's Kashgar, says it is good for young people to come to the coastal areas for employment.

"Our income rise on the one hand, and on the other hand we can learn advanced skills and culture. We can not only work here, but also take the opportunity to reinforce exchanges with others, learn more and practice more. It is quite good that we can help accelerate the economic development and raise the income of our hometowns."

Higher salaries and a pleasant life in the coastal areas have attracted others from Xinjiang to follow suit.

Statistics indicate that by the end of last year, 1.8 million migrant workers from Xinjiang had left the region to find jobs in other parts of the country.

(CRIENGLISH.com July 19, 2009)