Passengers can get a certificate from Beijing subway stations to prove they were late to work because of subway delays, the metro authority said.

Passengers on trains that are behind schedule for at least 15 minutes now can get a "delay certificate," the Beijing Morning Post reported on March 19.

In addition, riders can also print delay notifications from the Beijing Subway's official website, http://www.bjsubway.com.

The paper certificate will help passengers explain their tardiness to their employers, officials said.

However, the notifications will not serve as supporting documentation for lost compensation, the Beijing Subway said.