The wages of migrant workers will be increased by 30 to 100 percent from February 1 to meet the demand for labor on the construction of Beijing Olympic venues.

The Beijing Construction Committee (BCC) has issued a circular detailing the rate of pay for construction workers. It's much higher than the previous level set several years ago.

Skilled construction workers, paid 31 to 32 yuan a day, will see their wages rise to about 60 yuan (US$7.69), according to the new guidelines.

The construction of Olympic venues and facilities has entered a peak period with the demand for labor increasing sharply in 2007, said a BCC official.

The decision to increase salaries was taken to ensure the completion of the venues on time, the official said, and laborers would be paid according to their skills and work.

The new wage structure, based on market studies, provides companies with reference points. Employers and workers could negotiate their own pay levels, the official said.

Most migrant workers come from poor rural areas. China has more than 120 million such workers. In the construction industry over 70 percent of employees are former farmers.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2007)