This can create a chain of delayed payments, with contractors waiting for funds to be released before they can pay the subcontractor.

But Qui said that regardless of the procedures, contractors have a duty to pay their workers and should come up with a system to make sure this happened.

"Contractors should not pass on their difficulties to workers, and they should pay workers regardless of when they are paid," Qiu said.

Lu Qingcai, 36, is a migrant worker who has worked at a construction site in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, for nearly a year.

"The contractor had promised to pay us, around 50 workers, wages for six months in June, but we got just 80 percent. We have yet to receive the rest, which is around 300,000 yuan ($48,000)," he said.

Lu said the contractor later promised to pay the remainder with the January wages.

"We hope he keeps his word. Wage delays are common, and I'm used to it.''

Qiu said the government will make greater efforts to enforce the implementation of laws and regulations.

He also promised strengthened supervision.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and five other ministerial-level departments started a two-month campaign on Nov 26 to deal with wage delays.

Labor authorities will fine companies that pay late.

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