More than 100 sanitation workers went on strike in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, in protest against wage payments lower than local minimum wage level.

The sanitation workers, who are employed by the local government in Chengguan district of Lanzhou city, began their strike on Monday, Xinhua reported.

Some of the workers have left the sanitation station and are looking for other jobs, according to the report citing the Western Economic Daily (Xibu Shangbao).

A cleaning worker, who asked not to be named, said he had been paid 420 yuan per month since June that include 60 yuan of subsidies from the environmental protection bureau. But he only received 360 yuan this month.

Since 25 August, Gansu Province raised the minimum wage level from 360 yuan to 430 yuan per month.

"We have been working hard since the new minimum wage standard was implemented in August," the worker said. "We cannot understand why we are paid less for doing more and more work."

The report said cleaning workers in other districts of Lanzhou are also paid less than the minimum wage, except those working in Xigu district.

The Lanzhou City Labour and Social Security Bureau is investigating the case and has vowed to ensure that the cleaning workers will be paid on time and in full, the report said.

Source: Xinhua News Agency (18 October 2006), Western Economic Daily (18 October 2006)

19 October 2006