Two months after the deadly earthquake in the southwest part of the country, Beijing welcomed the arrival of the second group of domestic helpers from Sichuan Province on Saturday.

The group consisted of 46 domestic workers from the hardest-hit quake zones, including Dujiangyan, Shifang and Mianzhu, the Beijing Morning Post reported.

The domestic workers arrived at Beijing West Railway Station, wearing pink-apron uniforms. They sang songs of encouragement together to show their appreciation for previous help from the capital.

Shortly after the 8.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Sichuan on May 12, donations from all over the country began to pour into the province. Beijing and many other cities in the country provided funds and materials for the temporary shelters that currently house millions of homeless people in Sichuan.

Among the domestic workers who arrived on Saturday were 15 college students whose homes were damaged in the quake. They hope to find part-time jobs in the capital during their summer vacation, the Beijing Morning Post said.

The students, including three males, are expected to get jobs as private teachers, according to Zhao Guangxu, a senior manager at the Chuan Mei Zi Housekeeping Agency.

Sichuan, one of the country's most populous provinces, is the largest source of China's more than 200 million migrant workers.

The first group of Beijing-bound domestic workers from Sichuan Province after the earthquake arrived on June 25. Beijing also plans to offer 4,000 positions for quake-affected job-seekers from Sichuan as of the end of September, the Beijing Morning Post said.

(CRIENGLISH.com July 14, 2008)