Nearly 80 percent of private companies in the capital of Guangdong province do not pay a mandatory allowance to employees who work in the summer heat, the city's labor and social security bureau has said.

The province implemented the allowance in 2007 to compensate workers for working in the high temperatures.

Employers must pay the allowance to employees monthly between June and October or face charges, said Chen Jianlong, the vice-director of Guangzhou's labor and social security bureau.

People working outdoors are eligible for 150 yuan ($22) a month, while those working indoors can get 100 yuan a month, according to the regulation.

"The allowance is the same even if the temperature during the period is lower," Chen said.

However, he estimated as many as 80 percent of private enterprises ignore the allowance.

"Most State-owned companies and governmental organizations are paying the allowance to employees," he said.

"However, many private employers do not, and their employees even don't know they are entitled to it."

Most victims are delivery people, construction workers, and security guards, he said.

But some employers do not think the workers deserve the allowance.

"We pay a worker one yuan if he delivers one bottle of water to our customers," said a bottled water company manager surnamed Liu.

"The business of bottled water is very good in summer; a worker can earn more than 3,000 yuan a month," he said.

"Since such a worker is working for us temporarily, I don't think we should pay him the allowance."

Many other employers echoed Liu, claiming they do not need to pay the extra money to temporary employees.

However, Chen said all employees must get the allowance, whether temporary or permanent.

"They can come to our bureau to complain about their employers if they refuse to pay the allowance," he said.

The allowance cannot be swapped for other compensation, such as drinks and water, and it cannot be waived in an economic downturn, Chen added.

(China Daily July 30, 2009)