It was a small victory, but one that suggests that amid a serious shortage of migrant workers in the Pearl River Delta, employees now are in a stronger bargaining position.

A spate of cases of social unrest in the mainland have erupted in recent weeks, and at least one social scientist with impeccable Communist Party credentials has suggested that growing prosperity will bring more unrest, not less.

As annual per capita income increases, some large and medium-sized cities have entered a period of instability, said Lian Yuming, an urban development researcher at the Central Party School in Beijing, where high-ranking officials are trained.

``The average per capita income for mainlanders has now surpassed US$1,000 [HK$7,800], and a substantial number of people who live in the big cities have incomes of US$3,000 or more. This figure indicates that such cities have entered a period of speedy development, and at the same time a period of instability when frequent unrest will be likely,'' he said.

Public safety concerns and inadequate compensation for victims of disasters are adding fuel to the fire, Lian was quoted as saying by the pro-Beijing Wen Wei Po daily.

He said civil disasters could easily degenerate into social crises. To defuse such unrest, cities should set up crisis management systems to ensure that safety precautions are in place.

Governments had to show more concern for public safety, he said, and implement emergency laws and regulations in accordance with the constitution. In Panyu, the strike-bound electronics factory resumed work on Monday after management promised nearly 1,000 staff that their salaries would be paid on time and their overtime rate would increase.

The incident at television-maker Shanlin Technology is one of a number of labour disputes, riots and protests that have come to light across the mainland in recent weeks.

The Shanlin workers downed tools for two days beginning on Sunday and blocked the streets in protest at a one-month delay in their wages, low overtime pay and lack of holidays.

A worker who asked not to be named told The Standard that management agreed to raise their overtime pay to three yuan per hour from two yuan, to pay salaries on time, and to grant two rest days per month.

A more serious incident involving protesting farmers and more than 10,000 riot police occurred in Sichuan province last Friday.

At least two policemen and two farmers were killed and several hundred protesters detained, according to Voice of America.

Witnesses said a riot broke out as farmers protested against inadequate compensation for land that was seized to make way for a hydroelectric plant.

Two weeks ago, in an ethnically-charged incident, a Hui Muslim taxi driver ran over and killed a 6-year-old Han girl in Zhongmou county, Henan, sparking violent clashes between the Han majority and the Muslim Hui minority. At least seven people died.