Two sanitation workers in Datong, Shanxi province, spent four hours sifting through 8 metric tons of garbage to retrieve a watch lost by a child tourist, an incident that has sparked widespread debate across Chinese social media.

The extensive search, which took place on July 2, led many netizens to question the necessity and cost of such an effort, as well as whether the workers received additional rewards or if the tourist had special privileges. The watch, valued at about 1,000 yuan ($139), was misplaced by a child traveling with family from Guangdong province.

Xiao Zhigang, deputy head of Datong's city management bureau, addressed these concerns in a People's Daily report on Monday. He stated that the bureau, a service-oriented organization, prioritizes prompt action on requests forwarded through the 12345 hotline without excessive consideration of cost-effectiveness. Xiao confirmed that the tourist, identified only by her surname Lu, was an ordinary visitor with no special status. He assured the public that the sanitation workers involved would receive a commendation.

"Despite this incident, the bureau will continue to assist citizens in need without compromising regular duties," Xiao was quoted as saying.

Wang Jun, a manager from the environmental company employing the sanitation workers, announced plans to establish a fund that would not only reward the two workers, but also encourage similar acts of assistance to others.

The company noted that the workers persisted in their search despite Lu's suggestion to abandon it, aided by the watch's locator beeping within the trash. After the watch was found, Lu attempted to offer a WeChat red envelope as a token of gratitude, but the workers declined it. The search was conducted indoors in a facility described as similar to a factory building, equipped with ventilation, protecting the workers from direct sunlight.

The two sanitation workers have since returned to their regular duties.

The incident has ignited a fervent discussion online, with a topic on Sina Weibo garnering 48 million views by Tuesday. While some view it as a heartwarming display of civic duty, others criticize what they perceive as a misallocation of resources and distorted values.

"Searching for a cochlear implant can be understood, but looking for a child's watch is not worth it," one online comment read.

Another stated, "The high cost of labor for two workers over four hours far exceeds the value of the lost watch."

Critics question the prioritization of individual struggles as political achievements, highlighting the cost-benefit disparity.