A Beijing court ruled on Tuesday that a Shandong construction
company must pay the salaries of about 260 migrant workers who had
worked at Beijing's No 5 Metro Line project for an entire year
without getting a penny.
The salaries in default amounted to 900,000 yuan
(US$112,500).
Construction of the metro line began in late 2002, and the line
is expected to be operational next July.
The Beijing Urban Construction Group was the constructor of the
metro line, but it contracted a section of the line to the Shandong
Linyi Kanyuan Construction Company.
The 260 farmers-turned-workers were sent by the Shandong company
to work in Beijing last June, but had never been paid.
"Our boss told us that the Beijing Urban Construction Group did
not pay him first," the farmer plaintiffs told the court.
The farmers sued both the Beijing and Shandong firms in the
Beijing Xicheng District People's Court.
The Shandong constructor admitted that the workers were its
employees and their salaries had not been paid. But a company
source said the company had no money to pay the workers because of
a default from the Beijing company.
However, the court ruled that the Shandong company must pay
their workers.
"The Beijing Urban Construction Group should also shoulder legal
responsibilities," the judgment for first instance said.
The court ordered the Shandong company to pay the delayed
salaries three days after the judgment becomes effective.
(China Daily June 22, 2006)