Unionist: ´We´ll use labor law to save jobs´

"Even if the workers are laid off, we will ensure they get the compensation due to them in time," he added.

Factory closures in the coastal regions, mainly because of the slump in China's foreign trade, have forced employers to lay off about 20 million migrant workers, Zhang said.

In some cities, like Dongguan, Guangdong province, however, many employers whose businesses failed have fled to evade paying compensation to their employees, he said.

"We urge governments at all levels to set up an emergency response system to prevent such incidents from happening again," said Zhang.

He said his federation will help jobless migrant workers across the country to find "decent work" again.

In another development, a senior legislator has said China will "strengthen enforcement of labor laws" to protect workers' rights.