China's top human resources official on Monday ordered local government departments to make sure migrant workers are paid on time before the upcoming New Year holiday and Spring Festival.

The departments should conduct strict payment-related inspections to ensure migrant workers pay is not delayed, said Yin Weimin, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Security.

Speaking at a work meeting, Yin, also asked local authorities to fast track resolution of worker's disputes with their employers.

Delayed payment of wages is still one major cause of labor disputes, he added.

Yin said local human resources and social security departments have done a great deal this year to encourage employers to pay migrant workers on time, but problems still remain.

China has around 200 million migrant workers. Each year around Spring Festival tens of millions of migrant workers return home with new clothes or other gifts for their families bought with their hard-earned money.

The upcoming Spring Festival falls on February 2-8, 2011.

(China Daily via Xinhua, December 14, 2010)