From Sichuan Net and Huaxi Metropolis News, translated by CDT:
More than 20 women from Sichuan created a “Demanding Wages Wives Team” and went to Yunnan to seek more than RMB 200 million of their husbands’ hard-earned money.
Two years ago, Tang Guangqiong and Liao Yi leased a construction project of the Mengxin highway for Yunnan Honghe Autonomous Prefecture. More than 200 migrant workers were working on the project. Most of them are from Wusheng and Yuechi county near Guang’an City of Sichuan.
Liao said when they terminated the contract last May, the 4th Construction Company of 2nd Bureau of Central Railway promised to pay them wages of RMB 4.4 million yuan. However, they were only paid over two million yuan. The remaining two million yuan was suspended. Therefore, Liao and Tang were unable to pay for the 200 workers.
It took 10 days for the “Demanding Wage Wives Team” to reach Yunnan. Liao Jiafang, 56, from Wusheng, is the oldest wife. Liao’s husband and four brothers all had worked on the project. They are owed more than RMB 50,000 yuan in wages.
When the wives went to the construction site, an argument started and turned into a riot. Some wives were injured. Later, the wives tried to talk with the local police station and the construction company, but they failed. Finally they contacted Sichuan media to expose the event.
Labor bureaus at Wusheng and Yuechi started to investigate the event, when they heard the media report. After the negotiating with the local bureau, the construction company agreed to pay for the wages incrementally and signed a document with the wives team. Today, “Demanding Wage Wives Team” held the first RMB 800,000 yuan and headed back to Sichuan.
