Surveys of migrant workers in the Pearl RiverDelta before and after the law took effect suggest that the law has been effective in improving working conditions (Li, 2011). Rather, data for formal urban enterprises from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security are combined with data for other manufacturing units (i.e. town and village enterprise (TVE)) from the Ministry' of Agriculture. This evidence shows that although workers in manufacturing are earning more than ever before, the average hourly compensation was only $1.36 in 2008.