Officials from Yuhang district in Hangzhou hold a banner to welcome the employees from Hubei province. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

A chartered train carrying 1,291 passengers from Enshi, Hubei province arrived at Hangzhou East Station on March 24. Most of the passengers are employed at companies in Yuhang district, Hangzhou.

This is the first chartered train sent by a district-level government to bring back workers from Hubei since the lockdown ended in the province, excluding the city of Wuhan.

"Yuhang district is taking action to help address the shortage of workers facing companies," said an official at the Yuhang human resources and social security bureau.

Unlike previous direct express chartered trains, the train sent by Yuhang stopped at five stations in Hubei province, with some stations still under lockdown.

According to Shen Mingdong, director of the employment service department of the Yuhang human resources and social security bureau, in order to ensure passengers are able to board the train safely and smoothly, the Yuhang government worked out a plan in partnership with the railway authorities, human resource departments in Hubei and local departments in charge of epidemic control.

The employees brought back to Yuhang work at more than 370 companies including Alibaba, Cfmoto and Robam.

Among the passengers, 465 are employees at Alibaba and its affiliated companies. The train set aside several carriages for them.

The passengers also included managers and technical workers who are essential to companies.

By doing so, Yuhang district hopes to alleviate its workforce shortage while also helping to relieve poverty in Enshi by offering jobs to local residents.

Officials said that 105 migrant workers in Hubei took the train to Yuhang, 16 of whom were from low-income families identified by the local government.

Yuhang has been making strong efforts to bring back workers from Hubei since the risk level in the province was lowered and the Hangzhou heath code system became available in some cities in the province.

After the train arrives, the passengers will be sent directly to their companies or residential communities.

Yuhang district sends a chartered train to bring back Hubei workers to Hangzhou. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]