By Fu Ming and Mi Lan
Sound of Hope Radio Network Created: Feb 4, 2010 Last Updated: Feb 4, 2010
Sound of Hope Radio Network Created: Feb 4, 2010 Last Updated: Feb 4, 2010
Spring Festival is a time for Chinese family reunions, and many migrant workers in China want to return home with some money to share with their family and friends. Now, as the Chinese New Year approaches, waves of protests by laborers to recover unpaid wages are seen in many locations. A Google search of the subject “Ask for unpaid wages” yields 2.62 million hits on related news. However, due to suppression of such news in China, there are no websites available, devoted to this subject.
On Feb. 1, over 40 migrant workers from the provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi protested in front of the Shaanxi Provincial Government Hall for unpaid wages and were intercepted by the police. The workers had banners that read, “Yu Xing Construction and Qun Jian Labor Services, Give me back my hard-earned money! Government, Please help,” and they shouted slogans on their way to the Shaanxi Province Government Hall. The police stopped them in front of the building and told them to bring the issue to the attention of the Petition Office.
It is known that these workers worked on the East Gate Trade Center of the Beilin District of Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi province. The project was contracted by Yu Xing Construction Company to Qun Jian Labor Services. The construction was completed on Dec. 25, but the workers have yet to receive their wages, although they worked for Yu Xing Construction Company for over 5 months. The foreman disappeared with their money, and, for more than a month, the local government ignored the issue, leaving the problem unresolved.
Mr. Chen, one of the protesters, indicated that they have protested for more than a month and the government has avoided the issue by referring them back and forth to various departments. ”The provincial government staff referred us to the City; the City referred us to Beilin District; the District referred us to the Labor Bureau. Then, the Labor Bureau referred us back to Labor Services which indicated that it’s not their concern.”
Mr. Chen said that, “In Xi’an City, there are many such incidents. I remember seeing a couple of hundred people asking for their money at the provincial government when I was there on Jan 26.”
It is alleged that the Communist Party Chief of the Beilin District owns the Yu Xing Construction Company. This has undoubtedly increased the difficulty of being able to resolve the dispute. Some workers indicated that when they called TV and newspaper reporters, the response that got was that an interview could only be conducted with an invitation from the local Propaganda Department.
A worker named Mr. Gong indicated that the workers never received any wages other than meal vouchers to the cafeteria when they were working. “The Company provided meal vouchers so that we were fed. However, the work is completed now, the foreman is gone, and we got nothing.”
The Provincial Labor Bureau proposed paying the workers 50 per cent of the wages to resolve the issue. The workers refused, saying, “We have discussed this before and none of the workers agreed to that. Major laborers earned 120 yuan per day minor labors earned 60 to 70 yuan. [To the minor workers], 50 per cent means just 30 yuan a day. Deducting the 20 yuan meal fee would leave them with only 10 yuan per day. How could you justify that?”
Mr. Gong indicated that last month he was beaten by gang members hired by Yu Xing Construction when he asked to ask for his wages. “On the evening of Jan. 26, there were more than 30 gang members standing right in front of Yu Xing Construction Company. Two workers were beaten and I was one of the two,” he said.
After that, Yu Xing proposed paying 80 per cent of the wages due. Frustrated workers indicated that unfortunately they would probably have to accept this proposal without any guarantee that they will indeed receive what’s promised.
Similar stories are everywhere in China. According to the Nanfang Daily, there are a total of 100 billion yuan (approximately US $120.8 billion) of unpaid wages in China. Of this debt, construction companies make up over 70 per cent. In China, only 6 per cent of migrant workers receive their wages on time each month.
On Feb. 1, over 40 migrant workers from the provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi protested in front of the Shaanxi Provincial Government Hall for unpaid wages and were intercepted by the police. The workers had banners that read, “Yu Xing Construction and Qun Jian Labor Services, Give me back my hard-earned money! Government, Please help,” and they shouted slogans on their way to the Shaanxi Province Government Hall. The police stopped them in front of the building and told them to bring the issue to the attention of the Petition Office.
It is known that these workers worked on the East Gate Trade Center of the Beilin District of Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi province. The project was contracted by Yu Xing Construction Company to Qun Jian Labor Services. The construction was completed on Dec. 25, but the workers have yet to receive their wages, although they worked for Yu Xing Construction Company for over 5 months. The foreman disappeared with their money, and, for more than a month, the local government ignored the issue, leaving the problem unresolved.
Mr. Chen, one of the protesters, indicated that they have protested for more than a month and the government has avoided the issue by referring them back and forth to various departments. ”The provincial government staff referred us to the City; the City referred us to Beilin District; the District referred us to the Labor Bureau. Then, the Labor Bureau referred us back to Labor Services which indicated that it’s not their concern.”
Mr. Chen said that, “In Xi’an City, there are many such incidents. I remember seeing a couple of hundred people asking for their money at the provincial government when I was there on Jan 26.”
It is alleged that the Communist Party Chief of the Beilin District owns the Yu Xing Construction Company. This has undoubtedly increased the difficulty of being able to resolve the dispute. Some workers indicated that when they called TV and newspaper reporters, the response that got was that an interview could only be conducted with an invitation from the local Propaganda Department.
A worker named Mr. Gong indicated that the workers never received any wages other than meal vouchers to the cafeteria when they were working. “The Company provided meal vouchers so that we were fed. However, the work is completed now, the foreman is gone, and we got nothing.”
The Provincial Labor Bureau proposed paying the workers 50 per cent of the wages to resolve the issue. The workers refused, saying, “We have discussed this before and none of the workers agreed to that. Major laborers earned 120 yuan per day minor labors earned 60 to 70 yuan. [To the minor workers], 50 per cent means just 30 yuan a day. Deducting the 20 yuan meal fee would leave them with only 10 yuan per day. How could you justify that?”
Mr. Gong indicated that last month he was beaten by gang members hired by Yu Xing Construction when he asked to ask for his wages. “On the evening of Jan. 26, there were more than 30 gang members standing right in front of Yu Xing Construction Company. Two workers were beaten and I was one of the two,” he said.
After that, Yu Xing proposed paying 80 per cent of the wages due. Frustrated workers indicated that unfortunately they would probably have to accept this proposal without any guarantee that they will indeed receive what’s promised.
Similar stories are everywhere in China. According to the Nanfang Daily, there are a total of 100 billion yuan (approximately US $120.8 billion) of unpaid wages in China. Of this debt, construction companies make up over 70 per cent. In China, only 6 per cent of migrant workers receive their wages on time each month.
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