There's nothing sad about it; in Japan, there are plenty of such "workers". Often, they stand by signs saying "Caution: Slippery" or "Under Construction," simply holding umbrellas and advising the occasional passerby to be careful. The upside is that they receive a small but steady salary, and their work experience counts.

It's better than being an unemployed Negro in France and waiting for unemployment benefits while living in a social ghetto.