Minimum wage increases to improve welfare in China

Four regions in China have released a plan to increase minimum wage standards, with more places projected to follow in order to improve the welfare of the people, Economic View reported on Friday.

Starting from July 1, China's capital city Beijing will increase the minimum wage per month to 2,200 yuan ($ 322.38) for full-time employees and hourly wage for part-time employees to 24 yuan, the highest in the country, Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau announced.

The financial center Shanghai has upped its minimum monthly wage by 60 yuan to 2,480 yuan, the highest in the country, and its hourly wage from 21 yuan to 22 yuan since April 1.

Southwest China's Chongqing municipality boosted its first and second levels of minimum monthly wages by 300 yuan to 1,800 yuan and 1,700 yuan, respectively, on Jan 1.

The three levels of minimum monthly wages in Northwest China's Shaanxi province rose by 120 yuan to 1,800 yuan, 1,700 yuan and 1,600 yuan starting from May 1.

Currently, the minimum monthly wages of six regions, including Shanghai, South China's Guangdong province, Beijing, Tianjin, East China's Jiangsu province and East China's Zhejiang province, have surpassed 2,000 yuan.

The hourly wages of four places are more than 20 yuan, with Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin ranking in the top three positions, followed by South China's Guangdong province, whose hourly minimum wage stands at 20.3 yuan.

Furthermore, standards for unemployment insurance and employment injury insurance are also expected to be elevated. Shanghai has clarified that unemployment insurance will be increased from 1,770 yuan to 1,815 yuan, the report said.