Wage delays, if caused by malicious intent, were categorized as a crime last year, and about 80 people have been held on charges related to wage delays, China Central Television reported. Malicious intent is legally defined as employers transferring capital to avoid paying workers or actually refusing to pay.

The ministry will also strengthen efforts to enforce a mechanism that includes making the contractor put aside a sum equal to 3 percent of the cost of the project into a bank account. The government will manage the account and the money will be used to pay workers if wage delays occur. The mechanism also stipulates a general contractor's responsibility if its subcontractors delay paying workers.

Meanwhile, Zou Zhen, the union official, said his organization will cooperate with labor and construction authorities to improve employment relations and clarity in the complex contracting mechanisms.

"We will work to ensure that workers are covered by labor contracts," he said, "Individual contractors should be completely prevented from employing workers."

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