Companies and employers defaulting this year on the payment of migrant worker's wages could be punished by a national "blacklist", according to an official for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

Qiu Xiaoping, deputy minister of human resources and social security, said Friday that a national inspection would start Friday and last till the Lunar New Year to ensure migrant workers could get paid.

Companies and employers who fail to pay migrant workers would be placed on a national blacklist and could face punishments, including limiting their access to government financial support and government purchases and bidding, and preventing them from enjoying favorable taxation policies, he said.

The inspection would mainly focus on the construction industry, labor-intensive manufacturing industries and restaurants, where migrant workers converge, according to Qiu.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security spearheaded the inspection, and 11 other ministries including the National Reform and Development Commission, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Justice also participated in the inspection.