A day laborer waits by the side of the road hoping to get work for the day on Dec. 9 in Hefei, East China’s Anhui province. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

Workers gather around to get the contact information of a recruiter at a market for day laborers in Hefei in the early morning hours of Dec. 11. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

Day laborers from the same hometown hug each other on Dec. 9 at the market. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

A day laborer gets on a recruiter's motorcycle after landing a job. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

Zhang Daying village is a run-down neighborhood of Hefei where many day laborers live. The area has been slated for demolition, meaning the day laborer market nearby might soon disappear. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

A crowd of day laborers stand by the roadside around 4 a.m. hoping to get recruited. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

A day laborer has a bite to eat while sitting on the side of the road in Hefei’s Baohe district. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

Many day laborers sit by the roadside greenery while eating lunch. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

Day laborers line up for free lunch around noon on Dec. 9. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

A day laborer eats her lunch off the back of a vehicle. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

After lunch, a group of day laborers picks through a pile of donated clothing. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

Day laborers crowd around a car seeking information about jobs on Dec. 12 in Hefei. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

Workers crowd around a recruiter’s van hoping to get one of the few jobs on offer on Dec. 10. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin