Millions of migrant workers in China are returning to the Guangzhou province earlier than usual after the Chinese New Year, in hopes of finding available work. Data from earlier this week revealed that 20 million Chinese migrant workers are currently unemployed, and many factories have delayed opening or shut down entirely over the past few months. The government, anticipating social unrest, has police officers stationed every few feet at the train station where workers arrive - often after 30-plus hour journeys in crowded cars with few seats. Many of these travelers will also have no place to sleep unless they can find work. The government is offering incentives for workers to return home as the situation worsens.
See "China's Unemployment Swells as Exports Falter", Keith Bradsher, The New York Times, February 5, 2009