On June 3rd, heavy rain poured down in Tianjin, where security personnel at the Tianjin Water Supply Operations Department only allowed their own employees’ children to seek shelter in the lobby during the downpour, while blocking other students from entering, sparking a widespread discussion on the humane aspect and institutional rigidity in state-owned enterprises.
According to local netizens in Tianjin on June 3rd, several students without umbrellas were left out in the rain as a security guard at the Tianjin Water Supply Subsidiary Company’s business office only permitted the children of employees to enter the lobby for shelter, keeping other students outside the door. Witnesses reported that the security guard closed the door and prevented other students from entering.
In response to the incident, the manager of the Tianjin Water Supply (Subsidiary Company’s business office) stated that upon receiving relevant work orders, they had verified the situation and acknowledged the problem with the actions of the staff involved. The manager also admitted to their responsibility in oversight and management and stated that appropriate punishment will be implemented based on the group’s directive.
This topic quickly trended on Weibo, sparking extensive discussions. The majority of netizens believed that state-owned enterprises have a public service nature and service halls are places for public convenience. Opening up the lobby for shelter during extreme weather conditions should be a simple gesture, and differential treatment of children is seen as a cold-hearted act by the public.
Many netizens commented, “Water supply doesn’t distinguish between you and me, but sheltering from rain does? What’s more important than water supply is showing a bit of human touch.”
Some netizens speculated that the security guard may have been restricted by strict access management regulations of the company, but public opinion generally disagreed that this could justify excluding children.
A Weibo member “Cherishing the Present” expressed disbelief that children seeking shelter from the rain were segregated by this business office, questioning the role of the responsible person in this office and how they manage and educate their staff.
Regarding the actions of the security guard, another member stated that his lack of empathy and character issues should be condemned. However, the member also pointed out that the decision on who could enter the lobby was likely made after consulting with superiors, placing blame on the manager of the business office.
“Why differentiate between the children of employees and non-employees? Aren’t these children deserving of equal treatment? Where did this small water supply business office get such confidence?” another member raised questions.
Yet another Weibo member, “Eating Amnesia as a Meal,” believed that this incident exposed systemic flaws and training deficiencies, with the business office failing to establish clear rules for space access during public emergencies, and employees lacking training and authorization for humane treatment.
A different member, “Talk Now,” commented: “That day in Tianjin, it was heavy rain plus hail… Don’t just casually apologize and call it a day. It needs to be addressed seriously.”