The Chinese government is considering stricter rules for businesses that employ migrant workers, including charging interest on delayed payments.

In a draft regulation issued Wednesday, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security also proposed banning payment in goods or securities, requiring employers to pay their workers in full at least once a month, and designating responsible parties in ongoing wage arrears cases. According to The Beijing News, one ministry official has set a target of “no late payments to migrant workers” by 2020.

China’s central government has taken measures in recent years to prevent migrant workers — who may lack necessary certifications or residence permits, and thus often don’t sign labor contracts — from being exploited by unscrupulous employers. In January 2016, the State Council, China’s Cabinet, issued a guideline recommending standardized payment procedures for migrant workers, as well as a guarantor system to cover those whose employers do not pay them. The following year, the council passed a policy mandating “timely” payment for migrant workers. (Image: VCG)