Better enforcement of the law can ensure workers get paid

DURING A RECENT INSPECTION TOUR OF LUDIAN in Southwest China's Yunnan province, which was hit by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake in August 2014 that killed 615 people, Premier Li Keqiang, while talking with local residents, learned that one local laborer was owed 50,000 yuan ($7,274) by his company. Li was "angry" and criticized the company. Beijing News comments:

The problem of the non-payment of wages remains a problem and this case needs the attention of the premier for a solution. That shows how serious the problem is.

There are two possible reasons why workers fail to receive their wages. Either the employer has money but does not want to pay, or the employer does not have the money to pay its workers.