The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security's official website released the minimum wage standards for provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across the country in 2024 (as of January 1, 2024). In terms of the monthly minimum wage standard, Shanghai ranks first in the country with 2,690 yuan. In terms of the hourly minimum wage standard, Beijing ranks first with 26.4 yuan.
Shanghai's monthly minimum wage continues to rank first
According to the "Minimum Wage Regulations", the minimum wage standard generally takes the form of a monthly minimum wage standard and an hourly minimum wage standard. The monthly minimum wage standard applies to full-time workers, while the hourly minimum wage standard applies to part-time workers.
In terms of monthly minimum wage standards, the highest place in the country is Shanghai, reaching 2,690 yuan.
China News Service noted that Shanghai's monthly minimum wage does not include the social insurance premiums and housing provident fund that workers must pay in accordance with the law, which are paid separately by the employer. Therefore, this means that Shanghai's monthly minimum wage has a very high gold content.
In terms of the hourly minimum wage standard, Beijing reached 26.4 yuan, ranking first in the country.
In 18 provinces, the first-tier monthly minimum wage is ≥ 2,000 yuan
According to the Minimum Wage Regulations, different administrative regions within provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities can have different minimum wage standards.
China News Service found that some provinces have set different levels of minimum wage standards, and many provinces have set four levels of minimum wage standards.
Judging from the first-tier monthly minimum wage standard (as of January 1, 2024), there are 18 provinces that have reached and exceeded the 2,000 yuan mark, namely Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Guangdong, Hainan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Tibet, Shaanxi, and Gansu.
It should be pointed out that in Guangdong, Shenzhen’s monthly minimum wage standard is listed separately, reaching 2,360 yuan, which is higher than Guangdong’s first-tier monthly minimum wage standard.
In addition, Liaoning will raise the minimum wage standard from May 1, 2024, and the first-tier monthly minimum wage standard will be raised to 2,100 yuan. At that time, the number of provinces with the first-tier monthly minimum wage ≥ 2,000 yuan will further increase.
Many provinces announced minimum wage increases in 2024
Since 2024, many provinces including Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Liaoning have announced an increase in the minimum wage standards.
Among them, Jiangsu will adjust the minimum wage standard of the whole province from January 1, 2024. The monthly minimum wage standard is: 2,490 yuan in Class I areas; 2,260 yuan in Class II areas; 2,010 yuan in Class III areas. The hourly minimum wage standard for part-time employment is: 24 yuan in Class I areas; 22 yuan in Class II areas; 20 yuan in Class III areas.
Zhejiang will adjust the minimum wage standards across the province from January 1, 2024. The monthly minimum wage standards are 2,490 yuan for the first tier, 2,260 yuan for the second tier, and 2,010 yuan for the third tier. The minimum hourly wage standards for part-time work are 24 yuan for the first tier, 22 yuan for the second tier, and 20 yuan for the third tier.
Liaoning will raise the minimum wage standard from May 1, 2024. The first level of the monthly minimum wage standard is 2,100 yuan, the second level is 1,900 yuan, and the third level is 1,700 yuan. The first level of the hourly minimum wage standard is 21 yuan, the second level is 19 yuan, and the third level is 17 yuan.
The increase in the minimum wage standard will bring about a series of impacts. Among them, unemployment insurance, sick leave wages during the medical period, wages during the probation period and other benefits will be increased with the increase in the minimum wage standard.
The Jiangsu Human Resources and Social Security Department stated that according to the Labor Contract Law, if an employer pays a worker a wage lower than the local minimum wage standard, it shall pay the difference; if it fails to pay, the labor administrative department shall order it to pay within a time limit; if it fails to pay after the time limit, the employer shall be ordered to pay additional compensation to the worker in accordance with the law. If an employer violates the minimum wage standard, the worker has the right to complain and report, and can also apply for labor dispute arbitration and file a lawsuit in the people's court in accordance with the law.