Migrant workers deserve better pay protection

The end of a year is usually a time to ensure migrant workers are paid their due wages. Given that many enterprises, especially small and medium-sized ones, are suffering because of the economic slowdown, it is likely migrant workers will face difficulties getting their wages before they return home for the annual Spring Festival holiday, which starts early next month.

The data released by a trade union in December indicate that cases of wage cuts or defaults involving migrant workers increased by 34 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2015. Also, unlike the past, wage defaults are no longer limited to the construction industry; they have spread to other labor-intensive manufacturing sectors. This unfortunate trend could deepen because of the economic woes many domestic enterprises are suffering from.

According to a report from business news website Yicai.com, only 30 percent of domestic manufacturing enterprises can pay wages to employees on time and many of them have to lay off workers because of their financial difficulties. As a group that is widely believed to be in a disadvantageous position for lacking the bargaining power when it comes to employers, migrant workers are usually the worst victims of wage defaults.