In recent years, the city of Dongguan has been working to improve manufacturing technology, to enhance competitiveness. To help move things forward, some skilled workers from Japan have been drafted in. [File photo]

The southern city of Dongguan has often been nicknamed the world's factory. Its export-oriented manufacturing sector is the local pillar industry.

In recent years, the city has been working to improve manufacturing technology, to enhance competitiveness. To help move things forward, some skilled workers from Japan have been drafted in.

62-year-old Kiyohara was the owner of a metal-moulding factory in Japan. A year ago, he closed his factory and brought his skills to Dongguan, southern China.

Kiyohara says, "I worked in the moulding industry for ten years back in Japan. After I came here, I found the experience and skill-set of local workers to be lacking. Moulding requires a high level of skill."

Japanese employees can earn 20 to 30 percent more than they did back in Japan, with an added accommodation allowance, and bonus.

The employer says it's all worthwhile.

Manager of Dongguan meixing metal moulding Zhu Zhexue says, "They are indispensable. Our local employees do not yet have their skills and understanding of the products."

According to Dongguan's human resources bureau, there are 400 Japanese skilled workers working in the city. Most of them are in technical directing or management positions.

Huang Huiping, the bureau's deputy director, says the city's manufacturing sector is being given a technological upgrade, after the financial crisis.

But the move is highlighting the lack of skilled workers.

Huang Huiping, Deputy director of Dongguan Human Resources Bureau says, "As well as the normal labour shortage, the lack of skilled workers for key technology positions is even more serious. The normal shortages can be eased by boosting recruitment and wages. But that doesn't work in the case of highly skilled workers, because there is just not enough of them in the market."

Dongguan has 26 vocational colleges and over 400 training institutions. The city also recruits 50 thousand technical school graduates each year, from across the country.

But the quantity and quality of skilled workers is still not enough to meet the demand.

Now the city has launched a program to help companies provide training for existing workers. It's set aside more than 80 million yuan this year, to subsidize the program.

With Mr Kiyohara nearing retirement, Zhu Zhexue is now looking for a replacement. It's hoped that one of these young trainees may one day be able to step into his shoes.