China sees burst of pay delay cases

Migrant workers are a group most vulnerable to having their wages withheld. As the end of the Chinese calender year draws near, a rising number of cases are coming under the spotlight.

A man climbed to the top of a thirty-meter-high tower to demand the pay due to him... He made a statement indeed.

The tragedy happened on January 11th. The victim is a migrant worker who worked in a construction site in Dezhou city, Shandong province.

For many migrant workers in big cities, spring festival is the only respite they have in the year to rest and reunite with their families. But without their pay, many don't even have the money to buy a ticket home.

In southern China's Guangdong province, two migrant workers threatened to commit suicide outside their company.

Witnesses said the women were fired without being paid. On January 18th, a bloody case took place in the same province.

A migrant worker came to his company demanding his pay. Heavy smoke soon burst out from the building. He was laden with explosives.

"We heard a big bang and we guessed it was an explosion. We thought the building may collapse. The elevator broke down."

Eight people were injured, and the man was confirmed dead after being sent to the hospital. In northwest China's Shaanxi province, two migrant workers tried to get their plight noticed.

One of the men named Xu Shangzhi has worked at a local construction site for a year. But the company didn't paid him what was due.

Xu Shangzhi, migrant worker, said, "I'm dressed in the character who stands for justice and fairness. We want to draw people's attention to help us get our money."

Xu says there are about one hundred migrant workers who still haven't received their pay.

Local authorities have intervened. And Xu and the others are expected to finally get their delayed wages on Tuesday.