Migrant workers owed US$43 billion

China's migrant workers are owed RMB 360 billion (US$43 billion) by their employers, state media reported, noting some workers are still waiting to be paid 10 years after work ended. Investigators found 124,000 construction sites where workers were paid either late or not at all. The latest survey indicates earlier estimates badly understated the situation. A survey in 2003 suggested 120 million migrant workers were owed RMB 100 billion. Though shabby treatment of migrants is commonly thought to be an exclusively private-sector issue, investigations found government agencies responsible for huge payment delays. Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan has ordered outstanding bills to be paid quickly, telling government agencies to take the lead.