China's top labor official Yin Weimin has asked local government departments to ensure migrant workers are paid their dues before Spring Festival. With the lunar new year holidays approaching, local authorities have to take concrete measures to protect the rights of migrant workers, says an article in Shanghai Business Daily. Excerpts:

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China had about 230 million migrant workers by the end of 2009. Quite a few of them get into labor disputes with their employers. Most of the disputes are over delayed payment or deduction of wages. Such disputes increase remarkably before Spring Festival, a time when migrant workers carry their hard-earned money back home and spend the holidays with their family members.

It is natural for them to be desperate to get their full wages before returning home. But despite the efforts of local human resources and social security departments, many employers still don't pay migrant workers' their rightful dues. Most of the problems arise because many migrant workers are ignorant about labor laws. They do not demand certain necessary documents, which would prove that they have been working for a certain employer. Hence, they find it difficult to seek legal help if their employers withhold or refuse to pay their wages.

Even some of them who can furnish proof do not report the matter to local authorities in time and miss the two-year limit for legal action. All this makes it very important for local officials to conduct strict payment-related inspections to ensure that migrant workers' are paid their wages in time.