The Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau yesterday reminded
all companies they must pay an allowance to all employees who work
outdoors during extremely hot weather, a policy many private
companies don't follow.
According to a policy issued by the bureau and the Shanghai
Trade Union on July 11, workers should be paid an allowance of at
least 10 yuan (US$1.28) a day if they work outside when the high
tops 33 degrees Celsius.
The policy also states that companies can't reduce wages if
employees are given reduced duties during hot weather.
While most employees of state-owned companies that Shanghai
Daily talked to said they already receive the allowance, many
working for private companies had never heard of the rule or
received any bonus for working in hot weather.
"Sometimes the boss will offer us popsicles or cold drinks in
hot weather, but we don't receive any allowance," said a water
delivery worker surnamed Huang. "Our payment is in accordance with
the number of water bottles we deliver - I earn one yuan for each
barrel delivered."
Huang said he didn't dare ask his boss for the allowance as he
was afraid of losing his job.
Wage guidelines
The local construction industry watchdog last week announced the
latest salary guidelines for workers.
Based on a survey of construction workers in town during the
first half of the year, authorities created pay guidelines for 14
jobs. Unskilled workers earn 38 yuan a day on average, while the
highest paid workers are carpenters who take home 58 yuan a
day.
The figures could be used as guidelines by migrant workers to
judge their own payment level. The watchdog will update the
guidelines every three months.
(Shanghai Daily July 30, 2007)