Illegal agencies filling the gaps

About 2,000 workers from Dingzhou regularly work abroad. The area is one of top providers of overseas labor in Hebei province, and the industry is dominated by five agencies in the city.

The service fee paid by the workers has risen in tandem with wages, from 1,000 yuan ($157) per person in 1990 to the present 15,000 yuan. However, most workers in Dingzhou prefer to deal with illegal agencies, reasoning than trust is greater between fellow villagers.

An Pengfei, manager of Jianghai International Labor Agency, said villagers are mindful of their close relationship with neighbors, and legitimate agencies find it hard to sign new clients.