Govt aims to close income gap with steady wage hike

BEIJING - The government aims to raise its minimum wage at least 13 percent each year from 2011 to 2015, according to a national employment promotion plan released on Wednesday.

China raised its minimum wage by an average of 12.5 percent annually during the 2006-10 period, official figures showed.

The plan issued by the State Council stipulates that the minimum wage should be lifted to at least 40 percent of the average Chinese citizen's salary by 2015.