18-YEAR-OLD CHINESE WORKER SLEEPS IN SHOP TOILET TO COPE WITH SKY-HIGH RENT, SPARKS ONLINE DEBATE
An 18-year-old woman in China has drawn widespread attention after her living arrangement revealed the harsh realities faced by young workers struggling with rising living costs in major cities. The teenager, identified only by her surname Yang, works at a furniture store in an urban area where rental prices have climbed far beyond what her modest income can support.
Despite working full-time, Yang earns a salary that makes renting even a shared room unrealistic. Faced with limited options and determined to remain financially independent, she made a difficult and unconventional choice that has since gone viral on social media.
With the permission of her employer, Yang began sleeping inside a small toilet within the furniture store where she works. For this arrangement, she pays just 50 yuan a month, roughly equivalent to S$10, allowing her to save on accommodation while continuing her job in the city.
A DAILY ROUTINE BUILT ON DISCIPLINE AND SURVIVAL
Each night, Yang sets up a simple makeshift bed inside the toilet after business hours. Before the store opens the next morning, she carefully cleans the space so it can be used by customers and staff. According to those familiar with her situation, she keeps the area tidy and never complains about the conditions.
Yang has explained that her decision was purely practical. By drastically reducing her living expenses, she hopes to save money and gradually improve her circumstances. Her routine reflects strict discipline, balancing work responsibilities with the realities of surviving in a high-cost urban environment.
Her story quickly gained traction online, with many netizens expressing admiration for her resilience and self-reliance. Others, however, questioned why a furniture store could not offer a safer or more humane alternative, such as allowing her to sleep on a sofa or in a storage area.
ONLINE REACTIONS MIX PRAISE, CONCERN AND CRITICISM
The viral discussion has been divided. Supporters argue that Yang’s situation, while difficult, is still safer than sleeping on the streets, especially given cold nighttime temperatures in some regions. They see her story as a powerful example of perseverance and determination in the face of economic hardship.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about workplace standards, employee welfare and whether such arrangements should be normalised. Some commenters questioned whether young workers are being pushed into unsafe or undignified living conditions due to inadequate wages and housing policies.
Others drew parallels with similar situations in other countries, including Southeast Asia, where migrant workers and low-income earners face comparable pressures from rising rent, limited housing options and stagnant pay.
A BROADER CONVERSATION ON COST OF LIVING AND WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Yang’s experience has reignited debate about the cost of living crisis affecting young people across Asia’s major cities. Issues such as affordable housing, minimum wage adequacy and basic worker protections have once again come under scrutiny.
For a Singapore audience, the story resonates amid ongoing discussions about housing affordability, rental prices and the challenges faced by entry-level workers. While Yang’s circumstances are extreme, they highlight a broader global issue: economic growth does not always translate into dignified living conditions for the youngest and most vulnerable workers.
More than a story of hardship, Yang’s quiet endurance has become a symbol of resilience. Yet many observers agree that personal strength should not replace systemic solutions, and that meaningful reforms are needed to ensure all workers can live and work with dignity, safety and basic comfort.