The word blue collar originally belongs to American English, and its history can be traced back to the clothing regulations of early factories. At that time, the factory unified the operation of the industrial navy uniform, which was made of durable and dirt-resistant cloth. According to the product line of the operator, the design is also different. Some have hats, some have extra pockets, but most of the colors belong to dark series, which is very different from white-collar workers.
The word blue-collar is sometimes used to add words such as environment, restaurants or bars to indicate that the area is frequented by blue-collar workers or has the characteristics of attracting blue-collar workers. However, such descriptions are not always positive. Sometimes, describing a bar as a blue-collar bar may represent a negative appearance, such as violence, rudeness and only basic service. The use of the word blue-collar in the west often carries some derogatory meanings. More positive statements may include special efforts on manual work, special requirements on functions, less attention to red tape, and no fuss.
Many blue-collar workers are quite experienced and knowledgeable about their work. Although not all of them have academic qualifications, after accumulating certain experience, they are generally appointed as team leaders by superiors, such as foremen, which is an example. Other blue-collar workers also have the characteristics of wage calculation and payment, usually by the hour, which may be paid weekly instead of monthly, or by cash instead of cheque or remittance bank. Blue-collar workers who implement shift work system (en:S shift _ work) have poor holiday certainty. The salary of blue-collar workers is lower than that of white-collar workers in most cases, and some very professional blue-collar workers may also get high salaries. Finally, compared with white-collar workers, blue-collar workers face very high occupational injuries and risks, and usually enjoy certain medical insurance benefits.
Blue-collar trade union is an important organization to strengthen the occupational safety and welfare of blue-collar workers. Blue-collar trade unions often negotiate with employers on details such as welfare, working hours and salary, and also have the responsibility to mediate contradictions within the organization. Many famous strikes were initiated by blue-collar unions.
The blue-collar survey shows that there are slightly more men than women; Showing a younger trend, people under 35 account for 55% of the blue-collar population; Nearly 50% of blue-collar workers have high school, technical secondary school or technical school education; The blue-collar income is moderate, and the average monthly income of 42% blue-collar individuals is 1000 to 2,000 yuan. Ethnic Characteristics The blue-collar population in China is growing rapidly, even surpassing the white-collar population. With the emergence of new industries such as computers, air conditioners and mobile phones, the scope of blue-collar employment has extended from "production line" to after-sales service. Modern blue-collar workers have unified production skills and professional norms, which exist in various industries, such as senior skilled workers with standardized services, taxi drivers and logistics and transportation workers, chefs with high sanitary standards, and farmers who master modern agricultural technology knowledge in mechanized operations.