Wage defaulters must be made to pay

With Spring Festival approaching, many workers have intensified their demand to be paid their due wages. Many employers have drawn people's wrath by not paying their workers in time, which becomes particularly evident before Spring Festival. Earlier, most employers in the Pearl River Delta region defaulted on workers' wages. But now many others across the country have started doing the same, says an article on xinhuanet. Excerpts:

According to media reports, thousands of workers in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, have been demanding their arrear wages. Since many employers use loopholes in labor laws to seek protection after defaulting on workers' wages, the government should establish a safeguard mechanism to protect workers' rights and interests.

It is important to set up a mandatory cash deposit scheme for industries that are prone to defaulting on wages. Under the scheme, employers should be made to deposit a certain amount of cash with the authorities or banks as security money, which could be paid to workers in case they do not get their salaries. This will act as deterrence against employers and guarantee that workers get the remuneration for their labor.

Furthermore, such a safeguard mechanism should be reflective of the performance of the companies in regard to timely payment of wages to workers. For example, industries and companies that are known to default on wages should be compelled to deposit higher amounts with the authorities or banks, and those with a clean record should be made to put in smaller amounts.

Workers' rights and interests have to be protected even if that means putting more pressure on employers.

(China Daily 01/31/2013 page9)