Migrant workers from neighboring east African countries assemble scaffolding surrounding the building. Enticed by steady work and higher pay, thousands of migrants from around East Africa left their home countries and flowed into Juba following the arrival of big construction crews like the Chinese.
An East African laborer runs up the stairs of the building to resume work after lunch while a Chinese supervisor looks on. Dozens of Chinese construction crews have swooped into Juba to build critical infrastructure.
An untethered migrant worker from East Africa passes a scaffolding clamp to another worker multiple stories up a building they are helping a Chinese company construct in Juba, South Sudan.
A Chinese supervisor stands at the edge of the building. Many of the Chinese workers are similarly attracted to "hardship postings" in developing countries by substantially higher pay than what the same work would net back home.
An engineer chats on his phone with family back in China. Quarters for Chinese and African workers are separate and on opposite sides of the building.
A worker puts on shoes for scaling the building's scaffolding after lunch break ends.
A Chinese laborer sits on his bed. "Many of us miss home greatly, but this is what we have chosen" insists Mr. Lu, one of the managers.
Stevens, from Uganda, rests in bed with an abdominal injury from a fall two days prior. He has not gone to the clinic but instead chosen to self-medicate with ibuprofen and amoxicillin, stating that if he goes to the clinic his pay will be docked to cover the clinic fees. His Chinese supervisors deny this.
Chinese supervisors and engineers celebrate Chinese New Year in their dining room.
A worker picks his dinner of beans and ugali - a staple made of bleached cornmeal - from his quarters.
Two senior-level managers speak as a coworker pours them more wine.
Engineers and laborers celebrate the New Year in the Chinese laborers quarters. Laborers and management live separately.