Overdue payments to migrant workers in the construction industry could be demolished after a new regulation came into force in Chengdu, capital city of Southwest China's Sichuan province on August 1, 2010, West China Metropolis Daily reported Monday.

Under the new rules, first-tier enterprises in charge of a construction project will have to open a special account to pay the salaries of their workers.

Watchdogs would conduct account surveillance as a routine task and urge the enterprise to pay migrant workers timely and completely.

Supervisory bodies will be entitled to suspend the safety and quality surveillance on projects and impose fines on construction companies from 5,000 (US$738) to 30,000 yuan (US$4,428) if they fail to pay wages.

Migrant workers can also apply to local court for a verdict on a pay dispute under the new regulations and local government's financial departments are being urged to set up an urgent fund to pay the salaries of workers temporarily.

The contents of the contract between the employers and employees are also strictly defined including the term, working content, place, time, break and vacation, the amount of salary and payment method, social insurance and career risks in order to better protect the interest of migrant workers.

(chinadaily.com.cn August 3, 2010)