Henan employers face wage arrears punishment

Employers will be punished for wage arrears above 8,000 yuan ($1,305) over three months or longer in Henan province, according to www.dahe.cn.

Henan Provincial High People's Court said employers who fail to promptly pay wages to more than 10 employees which total more than 40,000 yuan will also be punished.

Henan authorities are interpreting the country's amendment to the Criminal Law in May 2011, saying that employers who did not pay a large amount of wages will face fines and up to seven years in prison.

In January, the Supreme Court issued a judicial interpretation, saying that an employer will be fined and sentenced for wage arrears of between 5,000 yuan and 20,000 yuan for more than three months.

It added the local high courts should narrow the range of unpaid wages depending on living standards in their area.

Zhejiang authorities said in April that employers will be punished for wage arrears of more than 10,000 yuan for three months or more.