Businesses in Hubei province will be fined up to 10,000 yuan ($1,630) for every temporary employee who is paid unfairly, Chutian Metropolis Daily reported on Tuesday.

The fine is based on an amended national law on labor contracts, which took effect on Monday. The law states that temporary workers should be paid the same as workers under contract as long as they are doing the same work and putting in equal effort.

By the end of 2011, businesses in Hubei province employed 3.7 million workers, including 407,000 temporary workers, most of whom worked at State-owned companies such as telecommunication companies and banks, according to the report.