After being stranded for three years overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korean workers have been returning in waves since the State Emergency Anti-epidemic Command began repatriations on Aug. 27. Among the recent returnees are some women who worked at North Korean restaurants in China.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a Daily NK source in China said Thursday that last month, North Korean authorities ordered the return of about 10% of the workers at North Korean restaurants in China. The restaurants generally employ about 15 to 20 female workers each.
The women selected to return were unable to work due to health problems, or had been in China the longest, the source told Daily NK.
“The male cadres managing the women who work at the North Korean restaurants say they received an order early last month to return just a minimum of workers so that no problems arise in restaurant operations.”
The repatriation order — coming despite the risk of hindering foreign currency earnings from a partial return of workers at restaurants with small workforces of 20 people or less — may form the groundwork for a more sweeping personnel rotation.
In fact, North Korean authorities plan to gradually rotate out two or three female workers at each restaurant, the source said.
“Restaurants have limited staff, so a vacuum opens even if they lose one or two workers. Nevertheless, the repatriation order means they’re sending new workers soon.”
However, new female workers for the North Korean restaurants have not yet arrived. The source said that while some women working in China are changing workplaces, North Korea has sent no new workers to the country.
Number of repatriations fall in sewing shops, electronic parts factories
According to the source, some restaurants in Liaoning Province have recently extended their hours to lunch after a recent flood of customers. The restaurants previously operated only at dinner hours.
The women at the restaurants perform their usual singing and dancing, and guests can reserve private rooms with performances for about RMB 2,000 (around USD 280).
Meanwhile, the repatriation of workers at sewing shops and electronic parts factories in China has recently slowed, the source said.
“From late August to the middle of last month, dozens of workers returned home from each factory, but recently, few people are going home. The repatriations have slowed because no one is arriving to take their places.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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