Farmers should get decent pay on time, says Chinese government

China's State Council has called for increased efforts to ensure rural laborers in cities earn decent pay and that it is paid on time.

"A wage payment supervision system and a wage deposit system should be established to fundamentally solve the issues of defaulting on and cutting wage payments to migrant workers," says a document on addressing issues concerning migrant workers issued by the State Council on Monday.

According to the document, employers with previous records of defaults and key construction projects are obliged to open special wage deposit accounts as a precaution against default on wage payments.

The document orders more severe punishments for employers who default on wage payments to migrant workers, noting relevant businesses may be ordered to halt construction or have their business licenses revoked in serious cases.

"Relevant personnel will also be punished according to law," says the document.

Defaults on wage payments and cutting wage payments to migrant rural laborers often spark mass protests. The government has shown determination to solve this issue in order to maintain social stability.

The document also calls for the establishment of reasonable wage standards for migrant workers, ensuring their safety in the workplace and protecting their legal rights.

Source: Xinhua