Houston Community News >> China Ups Minimum Wage
6/28/2007 BEIJING—The Chinese
government ordered a minimum wage hike to help the poor cope with soaring food
costs, a state news agency reported Friday.
Chinese leaders have been alarmed by a spike in inflation that saw the price of
eggs rise 37.1 percent in May from their price in the same month last year. Meat
and poultry were 26.5 percent more expensive in May compared to a year ago.
The increase "would have a great impact on low-income families," the Xinhua News
Agency said.
Local authorities were ordered Thursday to submit plans for raising minimum wage
levels, which vary widely from region to region, the agency said. It gave no
details on how much wages were to be raised.
The highest current minimum wage in China is $106 a month in the southern
business center of Shenzhen. The lowest is $35 a month in the eastern province
of Jiangxi.
Shanghai, one of the world's most expensive cities, raised its minimum monthly
wage by $7.80 to $98 a month last year.
(Contributed by Reuters)