Workers deserve higher wages
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-13 09:13

Efforts should be increased to stop migrant workers' wages decreasing, says a signed article in Yanzhao Metropolis News. An excerpt follows:

A survey indicates that the average salary of migrant workers in Guangdong Province has only increased 60 yuan (US$7.40) over the past 10 years, even though the region has witnessed continued rapid development, NPC delegate Zheng Gongcheng pointed out in a recent interview with the media.

If inflation is considered, the real income of migrant workers is less than 10 years ago.

The result of the survey indicates that migrant workers, who have made great contributions to Guangdong's development, have not benefited from the province's boom.

Their protracted low incomes will not only damage social equality and harmony, but also exert long-term negative effects on the local economy.

The long-standing "low income" phenomenon is partly attributed to the lack of a correct perception among relevant government departments towards migrant worker treatment.

Also, as a whole, migrant workers' inability to scramble for necessary rights has contributed a lot to this.

For a long time, some government departments have advocated the "low cost" strategy and taken low wages as a positive for the local economy. In their eyes, higher payment will affect the competitiveness of local enterprises and the region as a whole.

The prevalence of this closed mindset will directly cause the loss of equality, and as a result, the outflow of skilful workers, as the labour market gradually matures.

Local governments should discard the perception and take effective measures to stop the decrease of migrant workers' wages. For example, the minimum wage policy must be looked at.

Given the present uneven relationship between employers and employees, labour unions should play their role in pursuing reasonable income increments.