BEIJING - The Chinese government on Monday launched a wages overhaul to ensure that millions of migrant workers from the country's rural regions get properly paid before they return home for a major traditional Chinese holiday.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said in a statement that five working teams will be sent to eight provinces including Zhejiang and Hubei to inspect employers' salary payments to migrant workers as well as local governments' related supervisory work.

The statement said that the campaign will urge local authorities to take effective measures to ensure migrant workers get paid in full before the Spring Festival, which falls on Jan 31.

According to the statement, 10 ministries are participating in this campaign.

Violations by employers such as wage deductions and delays are an old problem in China that has pressed the government to conduct such a yearly overhaul in recent years to protect workers' rights.