Ayi shortage to decrease

The ongoing shortage of ayis in the city is dropping quickly as domestic helpers return to Shanghai following the Lantern Festival, the traditional end to the Spring Festival holiday.

This is traditionally a time when many new maids enter the local market, as existing ayis bring friends back from their hometowns to find work in Shanghai.

Managers at Shanghai Laibang Household Co said they expected the number of ayis registered with the company to jump from 300 to 1,000 over the next few weeks.

"About 50 percent of the new comers will be brought by ayis who have registered at our company," said company director Li Rong.

Li said the company received about 100 calls asking for household service over the past few days, but had to turn down work due to a lack of ayis. Ayis should expect to see their salaries drop to usual levels after the Spring Festival - eight yuan (US$1) to 15 yuan an hour - after earning bonus pay during the holiday.

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