More efforts should be made to resolve the issue of migrant construction workers' defaulted wages, says a commentary in People's Daily. An excerpt follows:

In a plan approved at the end of 2003, the State Council said that the issue of migrant workers' defaulted wages should be solved by 2006. This deadline is now only six months away.

Governments at all levels have made great efforts in this regard. According to statistics from the Ministry of Construction, a total of 177 billion yuan (US$21.9 billion), or 95.2 percent of the arrears reported by construction companies before the end of 2003, has been paid to migrant laborers. And the payment situation has greatly improved at new construction projects.

But we should realize that there are still many problems. In some regions new defaults still emerge and related regulations and system need to be improved.

To solve the issue in three years is a commitment the government has made to society. Governments at all levels should make persistent efforts to finish the task.

These wage arrears should be settled in full. Special attention should be paid to projects that owe large sums and regions that lag behind. Strict action should be taken, such as suspending the issue of construction land-use quotas, as well as limiting the purchase of government cars and officials' overseas trips.

A long-term mechanism should be established to prevent defaulted wages in the future. Companies found to have defaulted migrant workers' wages in these two years should be banned from contracting new projects. A unified open credit system should be established.

Furthermore, the quality of management should be improved at construction companies. A modern enterprise system and management assessment system should be established. The industrial association should ensure the healthy development of the construction industry. Enterprises should fulfill their contracts and shoulder due social responsibilities.

Last but not least, a better social environment should be created. The media should play an active role in promoting good examples and exposing bad behavior.

The target can be reached if all parties make a serious effort.

(China Daily July 17, 2006)