Top News

Olympic stadium construction to continue over Spring Festival

Updated: 2007-02-17 20:30

BEIJING -- Ding Zunjie, a migrant worker with a weather-beaten face and calloused hands, scoops up a big shovel of slurry at the construction site of the "Bird's Nest", the national stadium for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Thirty-six-year-old Ding, having worked in Beijing for six years, has decided to stay in the capital and continue working during the Spring Festival.

He will work every day of the seven-day festival from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m for the flat rate of 50 yuan a day. But the holiday bonus of 500 yuan makes it worth his while.

Speaking in front of the local government officials, he leaves the financial issue to one side. "It's a great honor for us to work on Olympic projects, and a rare chance for us fellow workers to celebrate this Spring Festival together in Beijing," Ding said. "Working every day will be tiring, but I will be happy."

Ding, from Puyang in central China's Henan Province, joined the National Stadium project as a construction worker in March, 2006.

Ding saved money on a return ticket home so he spent 500 RMB (65 U.S. dollars) -- nearly half a month's wages -- on an electronic dictionary for his son.

"I miss my son a lot but he is proud of having a dad who works for the Olympic project," Ding said.

Over 600 construction workers have chosen money over home to stay and continue working for the ongoing project, according to Fu Baoguang, deputy manager of the Administrative Department, National Stadium Corporation Ltd.

"We are deeply moved that these workers have devoted their efforts to the construction so we have given them bonuses," Fu said.

"We have made some preparations for the Spring Festival for these workers, such as a big feast on New Year's Eve and a gift of 500 RMB (64 U.S. dollars) for each worker," Fu added.

"It is a combination of the importance of the project and the bonus," another worker Wan Qingxun was quoted as saying when asked about why he chose to stay.