The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has released the first "blacklist" of enterprises and individuals that have defaulted on paying migrant workers' wages.

According to the official website of the ministry, it has established a blacklist system for enterprises and individuals that withhold the wages of migrant workers in order to safeguard the legitimate interests of migrant workers and enhance the construction of a social credit system. On July 12, the ministry held a special news conference to release the blacklist for the first time and announced it would punish those on the list.

As early as 2016, the State Council, China's Cabinet, issued a document to deal with the problem of migrant workers not being paid.

The blacklist aims to increase the pressure on those who fail to pay their workers through comprehensive social management methods. According to the ministry, restriction will be imposed on the financing and loans available to enterprises and individuals on the list and they will be forbidden from bidding and tendering for government procurement.

If within a year of being blacklisted they commit no additional violations, their names will be removed and all privileges restored.