Shenzhen has released a draft regulation to force employers to pay salaries on time as part of its efforts to improve a poor labour record and protect workers' rights.
The city has been criticised for having the most labour disputes, with private businesses and the owners of joint-venture companies taking advantage of cheap labour flooding in from inland provinces in the absence of effective labour laws and regulations.
The draft, which was posted on the Shenzhen government's Web site last month, has attracted comments from both employees and employers, but neither party feels the proposed regulation will protect their rights.
Unpaid and late wages are a widespread problem. The new proposal stipulates that wages must be paid at least once a month and payment should not be more than five days late.
A fine of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan (HK$9,428 to HK$47,145) will be imposed by the labour bureau if the employer fails to pay up within the requested time. Overtime must also be paid at a higher rate.
While most workers who visited the site welcome the policy on wages, some feel the proposal does not provide protection of their rights.
'The penalty for employers who do not pay salaries on time should not been restricted to 50,000 yuan,' said Wang Yaoqi, a migrant worker from Jiangxi. 'It should correspond to the salary amount owed by employers.'