Silence as a survival strategy: will the silent be worse off? A study of Chinese migrant workers in Guangdong

Abstract

Based on a comprehensive survey of 766 migrant workers in Guangdong province in 2014, this study empirically examines the factors determining why some Chinese migrant workers remain silent when their rights are violated and the consequences of them doing so. The results of the survey show that the migrant workers who are more vulnerable in demographic factors, family dependency, job insecurity and social networks are more likely to stay silent in such circumstances. The results further indicate that silence leads them to be worse off in relation to social security benefits and labour rights. These results challenge the traditional organisational behaviour perspective on silence. The results imply that silence can be a survival strategy for second-class workers and may be evident whereby the disadvantaged have no say and remain silent in exchange for work opportunity, but by doing so are more likely to suffer unfair treatment.

Keywords:

• China
• migrant workers
• silence
• reasons
• consequences
• survival strategy

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers and Dr. Zhibin Lin for their helpful and constructive comments.

Notes

1. The Codes on Research Integrity (Clause 41, Clause 48 in Regulations on the National Social Science Foundation of China, Amended in March 2013).

2. Compound average of social securities benefits = (On-job injury + Basic medical + Pension + Unemployment + Housing fund)/5. Maternity benefits are paid only to women employees in China, so this category is excluded from the compound average.

3. Compound average of deprivation of labour rights = (Forced to pay a deposit + Forced work + Dangerous work + Package checked + Fined)/5.