Air quality a factor for foreign workers in China
Decision to live there often comes down to weighing economic gain versus personal health
Thursday, May 02, 2013
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His network there was huge, the opportunities endless. But when his four-year-old-son started coughing and his nose wouldn't stop running, van der Chijs decided it was time to leave.
"My son was getting asthma. He was coughing a lot," said van der Chijs, who moved his family to West Vancouver and set up with venture capital company Cross Pacific Capital. "We went to see the doctor and he said it was probably pollution-related. As parents, we felt pretty bad about it."
Van der Chijs isn't the first, nor likely the last, expatriate to flee China because of the country's notorious smog.
Despite the country's vast commercial potential, executive recruitment companies say it is also becoming harder to attract top talent to China - both expats and Chinese nationals educated abroad.
The European Chamber of Commerce in China says foreign managers leave for many different reasons but air pollution is almost always cited as one of the factors.
Foreigners regularly check air quality readings put out by the U.S. Embassy and consulates on their Twitter feeds when deciding whether to go for a run or let their children play outside.
In January, the readings in Beijing went beyond what is considered hazardous by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as thick industrial smog cloaked the city.
On the worst days, residents were urged to stay indoors, while skyscrapers disappeared into the capital's murky skyline and masks multiplied on the streets and sold out at convenience stores.
Air pollution has also been worsening in Shanghai over the years, van der Chijs said. A trail runner, he never ran outside while he was there, preferring to run on a treadmill, while his children rarely played outside.
"It was off the scales sometimes. If it was really bad there I just stayed inside," he said. "When you live here you realize it's not the norm."
Exposure to high levels of air pollution can lead to cardiovascular and lung disease, and increase the risk of cancer.
But Alison Winters, of the Canada-China Business Council,
said while many people have complained about the smog in China, the decision to live there often comes down to weighing economic gain versus personal health."There are many people who say that (about the pollution) but, because of the income disparity, they'd rather stay there and save money and come back in a few years," Winters said.
She noted some expats with young families will leave their spouse and children in B.C. while they work abroad, while others can afford to live in homes on the outskirts of Beijing or Shanghai, have chauffeurs drive them around and take frequent vacations to avoid the smog, especially in February and March when it's usually worse.
In many cases, she added, companies help lessen the risk by hiring local staff who are better used to coping with pollution. Their B.C. counterparts, or those from smaller or medium-sized businesses, she added, often head to China for just a week or two so they aren't exposed long-term to the pollution.
B.C.'s trade offices in China, for instance, are all staffed by local workers, said David Currie, spokesman for B.C.'s labour ministry.
"Each individual in each company would have their own way of dealing with the pollution," Winters said. "Locals are able to deal with the situation much easier than expats,"
Jay Silverberg, president of consulting firm Synergy Management Group Inc., agreed while air pollution may be an issue for those looking to move to China, he doesn't consider it a problem for most people doing business over there.
"It's not what we're used to. If you're out and about for long periods of time it will be irritating. It's definitely an adjustment," he said, but added it's all part of the China experience. "People are great, the food is OK ... you take it all in stride."
Van der Chijs admits he likely wouldn't have felt the urgency to leave China if his son hadn't become sick.
"I like China a lot. It's just very hard for families who live there," he said. "I'm very happy to be here. It's night and day compared with what you have over there."
*psssst, why? because most people aren't stupid....me
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