Actor Yu Qing Bin has appealed for help after revealing that he has gone unpaid for four consecutive months, with several members of the same production crew facing similar wage arrears.
Chinese actor Yu Qing Bin. Photo from Yu’s Weibo |
Znewsciting Chinese outlet Swampreported that Yu disclosed the situation during a Saturday livestream on social media. He said that earlier, burdened by a mortgage in Beijing and a lack of acting opportunities in major projects, he joined several short-form drama productions. However, after completing two projects, he has yet to receive more than 10,000 yuan (US$1,435) in payment, with the delay stretching over four months.
Yu said the production team repeatedly cited various reasons to postpone payment. For one of the projects, no contract was signed on the grounds that the parties were “acquainted,” leaving him with little legal protection.
He added that other crew members, including camera operators and lighting technicians, were also owed wages and had been forced to band together to seek ways to file complaints.
After making the wage dispute public on social media, Yu said he received threats, while the producer involved subsequently became unreachable. He said he is currently preparing the necessary legal procedures to file a lawsuit.
According to HK01Yu has been working as a food delivery rider to support himself.
In China, wage arrears are a common problem in the short-form drama sector, particularly for supporting actors and behind-the-scenes workers. The absence of formal contracts often makes it difficult for them to safeguard their rights when disputes arise.
Yu, 42, began his acting career with supporting roles in television dramas such as “The Legend of Yang Guifei,” “The Shaw Eleven Lang,” “Border Town Prodigal and Thin Ice.”
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