Policy digest

Cabinet acts to ensure migrant worker pay

A draft of regulations to prevent employers defaulting on migrant workers' wages was passed at the State Council executive meeting on Wednesday.

Migrant workers have made a significant and special contribution to the country's development, and they must be paid on time and in full, Premier Li Keqiang said at the meeting.

The draft said employers and local governments and their departments, are responsible for on-time payments to migrant workers.

It said construction companies that don't have enough funds for their projects should not be issued with permits, and there should be a blacklist of employers who default on migrant workers' wages.

Companies that refuse to pay may be forced to make compulsory payments, according to the draft.

It was emphasized at the meeting that governments at various levels, State-owned companies and public institutions had no excuse to default on migrant workers' wages.