For Better or Worse: Coal Miners Pose for Moving Pictures With Their Loyal Wives Before and After Showering as They Return From a Long Shift Underground

 

 

May 5, 2016 - These are the faces of men who spend most of their time underground away from their wives and broad daylight. 

For the first time, the men have been put into the spotlight after a collection of images showing them with their wives straight after work gained attention on China's social media sites. 

The men work in a mine in the city of Huaibei in east China's Anhui province, reports the People's Daily Online. 

The pictures show side by side comparisons of wives with their husbands after they have returned from work followed by images after the men have had a shower. 

The men look instantly different once they have taken a wash which proves one of the aims of the collection - to treat the men with respect. 

The wives also look different, leaning in closer to their husbands in a loving way.  

More than a dozen couples took part in the photo shoot which aimed to showcase the tough lives of some of China's industry workers. 

The images have been popular on China's social media sites. 

On China's Twitter-like Weibo people were discussing their respect for coal miners. 

'Ba li wan shua' said: 'My father is also [a coal miner]. The thought makes my heart ache.'

While 'Zhang gu liang' wrote: 'Coal miners are hard-working people. The whole industry is facing a downturn. Many mines haven't been able to pay their workers for a few months.' 

And 'Xin ru zhi shui 27301' said: 'It's hard-earned cash for coal miners. Respect.'    

Anhui province is a relatively poor area of China where many people work in mining and agriculture industries. 

Huaibei is home to the Huaibei Coal Mining Group, the largest mining group in east China. 

It's been reported to produce 17 million tonnes of coal every year. 

Huaibei coal factory also employs women who separate coal from other objects brought back to the surface. 

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the coal and steel sectors employ around 12 million workers in the country. 

Many of China's coal mines are facing closure with over 1,000 coal mines expecting to close this year according to the country's energy regulator.

China has a total of 10,760 coal mines with 5,600 of them estimated to close eventually.