BEIJING - The Chinese government said Tuesday it would strive to basically sort out wage arrears for rural migrant workers within three years.

Qiu Xiaoping, deputy head of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said as the economic reform deepens, there are growing difficulties and challenges to build up a harmonious relationship between employees and employers.

He said at a meeting on labor relations that the ministry would keep records of the employers, improve the supervision, and carry out more campaigns to help the unpaid workers.

The ministry will also make efforts to make 80 percent of the small businesses sign and honor the legitimate labor contracts.