Shi Zhigen, a 34-year-old migrant worker who had been in Shanghai for 10 years, found the 220-km long trip from his home town Yingshang County to Shanghai is full of uncertainties.

He became jobless before the Spring Festival, the most important day for the Chinese which fell on January 26 this year. The factory manufacturing baby souvenirs where he had worked was closed because of the global financial crisis, said the dark thin man.

"I cannot just stay in my village doing nothing. I do not even know how to do the farming work," sighed Shi, adding that no men at his age have stayed in the village.

For the first time in many years, he returned to Shanghai a week before the Lantern Festival, which falls on February 9 this year and marks the end of the celebrations of the Chinese lunar New Year.

"The earlier I come back, the sooner I may find a job," said Shi.

He is not alone. This week, hundreds and thousands of migrant workers -- those working outside their home village -- have returned to big cities earlier than usual in the hope of getting jobs.

Official statistics show that about 20 million migrant workers -- nearly a sixth of the country's total-- have left cities for their countryside homes after losing their jobs.

Early this month, the Chinese government in a major agriculture policy paper urged companies to avoid layoffs and offer more job opportunities for rural migrants if at all possible.

Yet so far, for many migrant workers, the tough job markets keep on dampening their prospects as they struggle to find jobs.

"We have been three companies and four employment agencies, but with no luck," said Shi, sitting on a tool in a 10-square-meter shanty he shares with four villagers, to save money and share job information.

Finding a job is not the only thing Shi is concerned about. As time passes by, he has almost used up all the 1,000 yuan (about US$142.8) he took with him.

Even so, to return to his hometown is the last thing he wants to do. Like most migrant workers, he found it almost impossible to readjust to the countryside life.

"I cannot stand the coldness in unheated rooms in my village. My farm land was leased out so that I have nothing to do back there," said Shi.

"No matter what it takes, I will stay in cities," the short man narrowed his eyes. He told Xinhua he never forget his big plan: to bring his eight-year-old son out of his home county and let him go to a Shanghai school.

Now, eking out a living for himself is his top concern.

"Last year, many factories didn't fire staff for fear of breaching their employment contracts, " said an official with the Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau.

"But they can choose not to renew contracts this year," he said, explaining that contracts for migrant workers are usually renewed once a year before or after the Spring Festival.

To alleviate job-hunting woes, the central government has decided to step up subsidies and training programs directed at migrant workers. Flexible employment policies and more training chances were also encouraged.

The Shanghai Putuo District government offered some 1,600 job opportunities related to 2010 Shanghai World Expo preparation work for rural migrants.

Meanwhile, some companies choose to take on more social responsibilities. Ke Zhijian, President of Yake Corporation, a private company making baby toys in Pudong District, said: "Many staff have worked here for almost 10 years and contributed a lot. Whatever measures we take, we will never fire any of our staff."

Despite the current downturn, the company did not fire any of its 200 migrant workers.

Government policies and company efforts have helped to ease the unemployment to some extent. Yet more still needs to be done.

You Minjiang, a member of the Shanghai Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference, said that the government is still faced with a tough mission since there is no sign of immediate improvement in the economy.

"For example, relevant departments should build a platform to release job information weekly to rural migrants for free," suggested You.

(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2009)