Workers get rights to pay talks

SHANGHAI: New rules have been introduced to allow low-paid workers to discuss wage increases with their employers, the Shanghai labor department said yesterday.

The regulations will this year apply to workers at 75 percent of all State-owned enterprises (SOEs) and 60 percent of those in other companies that have a labor union.

One of the new rules, effective immediately, allows SOE employees who earn less than one-10th of their boss' salaries to request pay raises.