MOST of the 226 construction workers from China who showed up at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) office last week over salary disputes with their employers have accepted a settlement and are staying on here.

Following the ministry's intervention, 171 of them have decided to continue working here. Another 53 have decided to go home, and the remaining two will take their claims to the Labour Court.

These work permit holders' unhappiness came to light last Tuesday, when some 200 of them gathered at the ministry's building.

Their complaint was that they had not been paid most of their salaries since September and that their employers, Zhonghe Huaxing Development and China Nuclear Industry Huaxing Construction, had attempted to slash their net salaries unilaterally.

With the ministry stepping in to mediate, the employers agreed to bank September's salaries and pay the rest of the money by the Chinese New Year, which is on Jan 26 this year.

About 100 workers accepted this and returned to work the following day, but another 100 of them returned to the ministry on the following days, still unassuaged.

The MOM said in a statement on Saturday that 98 had accepted a settlement last Friday, leaving the case resolved with all but two of the 226 workers.

The ministry also advised foreign workers to approach it if they had problems with their employers and not to take matters into their own hands.

'MOM and the police would not hesitate to take firm action against them if they were to violate any laws,' the ministry added.

In a separate statement, the China embassy's commercial affairs office thanked the ministry for helping to resolve the dispute and urged China workers to observe the laws here and to use proper channels to resolve labour disputes instead of conducting assemblies or sit-ins.

Those found guilty of organising or helping to organise an illegal assembly may be fined up to $10,000 and jailed up to six months. Those convicted of taking part in one may be fined up to $1,000.