By September 1st, 2021, 13 provinces and cites have increased the minimum wage standards in this year. We have seen an increase in the number of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities that raised minimum wage standards within 2021, compared to last year.
According to the Provisions on Minimum Wage, the legal minimum wage is the lowest amount which employers may pay to employees for work performed within the legal standard working hours, or specific working hours in accordance with their employment contract. According to the new Provisions on Minimum Wage, the minimum wage is one of two types – a monthly minimum wage and an hourly minimum wage. The monthly minimum wage applies to full-time employees, and the hourly minimum wage applies to others such as part-time and temporary employees.
Due to the severe impact of COVID-19 on China’s economy and society in 2020, 4 provinces and cities announced a delay on adjusting the minimum wage standards, considering the difficulties encountered by enterprises and the stability of employees’ income. In 2020, only 3 provinces and cities raised minimum wage standards, all of which are decided at the end of 2019 or in January 2021, before the widespread outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. According to the data published on human resources and social security department (bureau) of each province, autonomous region and municipality in the past five years, 9 provinces and cities adjusted the minimum wage standards in 2016, while 19 provinces and cities adjusted in 2017, 15 in 2018, 8 in 2019, and 3 in 2020. Up to September 1st, 2021, 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have announced their adjustment on minimum wage standards, including Shanghai City, Beijing City, Zhejiang Province, Jiangsu Province, Tianjin City, Hubei Province, Shaanxi Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Heilongjiang Province, Jiangxi Province and Tibet Autonomous Region.
By September 1st, 2021, detailed information of provinces and cities that have increased the minimum wage is listed in the following table: (sorted by Class areas from highest to lowest):
| Provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities | Class | Effective date | Monthly (full-time) | Hourly (part-time) | ||||
| Y2021 (CNY) | Y2020 (CNY) | Increase rate (%) | Y2021 (CNY) | Y2020 (CNY) | Increase rate (%) | |||
| Shanghai | 2021/07/01 | 2590 | 2480 (2019 data) | 4.44% | 23 | 22 (2019 data) | 4.55% | |
| Beijing | 2021/08/01 | 2320 | 2200 (2019 data) | 5.45% | 25.3 | 24 (2019 data) | 5.42% | |
| Zhejiang | A | 2021/08/01 | 2280 | 2010 (2017 data) | 13.43% | 22 | 18.4 (2017 data) | 19.57% |
| B | 2070 | 1800 (2017 data) | 15.00% | 20 | 16.5 (2017 data) | 21.21% | ||
| C | 1840 | 1660 (2017 data) | 10.84% | 18 | 15 (2017 data) | 20.00% | ||
| D | — | 1500 (2017 data) | — | — | 13.6 (2017 data) | — | ||
| Jiangsu | A | 2021/08/01 | 2280 | 2020 (2018 data) | 12.87% | 22 | 18.5 (2018 data) | 18.92% |
| B | 2070 | 1830 (2018 data) | 13.11% | 20 | 16.5 (2018 data) | 21.21% | ||
| C | 1840 | 1620 (2018 data) | 13.58% | 18 | 14.5 (2018 data) | 24.14% | ||
| Tianjin | 2021/07/01 | 2180 | 2050 (2017 data) | 6.34% | 22.6 | 20.8 (2017 data) | 8.65% | |
| Hubei | A | 2021/09/01 | 2010 | 1750 (2017 data) | 14.86% | 19.5 | 18 (2017 data) | 8.33% |
| B | 1800 | 1500 (2017 data) | 20.00% | 18 | 16 (2017 data) | 12.50% | ||
| C | 1650 | 1380 (2017 data) | 19.57% | 16.5 | 14.5 (2017 data) | 13.79% | ||
| D | 1520 | 1250 (2017 data) | 21.60% | 15 | 13 (2017 data) | 15.38% | ||
| Shaanxi | A | 2021/05/01 | 1950 | 1800 (2019 data) | 8.33% | 19 | 18 (2019 data) | 5.56% |
| B | 1850 | 1700 (2019 data) | 8.82% | 18 | 17 (2019 data) | 5.88% | ||
| C | 1750 | 1600 (2019 data) | 9.37% | 17 | 16 (2019 data) | 6.25% | ||
Ningxia | A | 2021/09/01 | 1950 | 1660 (2017 data) | 17.46% | 18 | 15.5 (2017 data) | 16.13% |
| B | 1840 | 1560 (2017 data) | 17.95% | 17 | 14.5 (2017 data) | 17.24% | ||
| C | 1750 | 1480 (2017 data) | 18.24% | 16 | 13.5 (2017 data) | 18.52% | ||
Xinjiang | A | 2021/04/01 | 1900 | 1820 (2018 data) | 4.40% | 19 | 18.2 (2018 data) | 4.40% |
| B | 1700 | 1620 (2018 data) | 4.94% | 17 | 16.2 (2018 data) | 4.94% | ||
| C | 1620 | 1540 (2018 data) | 5.19% | 16.2 | 15.4 (2018 data) | 5.19% | ||
| D | 1540 | 1460 (2018 data) | 5.48% | 15.4 | 14.6 (2018 data) | 5.48% | ||
| Heilongjiang | A | 2021/04/01 | 1860 | 1680 (2017 data) | 10.71% | 18 | 16 (2017 data) | 12.50% |
| B | 1610 | 1450 (2017 data) | 11.03% | 14 | 13 (2017 data) | 7.69% | ||
| C | 1450 | 1270 (2017 data) | 14.17% | 13 | 12 (2017 data) | 8.33% | ||
| Jiangxi | A | 2021/04/01 | 1850 | 1680 (2018 data) | 10.12% | 18.5 | 16.8 (2018 data) | 10.12% |
| B | 1730 | 1580 (2018 data) | 9.49% | 17.3 | 15.8 (2018 data) | 9.49% | ||
| C | 1610 | 1470 (2018 data) | 9.52% | 16.1 | 14.7 (2018 data) | 9.52% | ||
| Tibet | 2021/07/01 | 1850 | 1650 (2018 data) | 12.12% | 18 | 16 (2018 data) | 12.50% | |
| Gansu | A | 2021/09/01 | 1820 | 1620 (2017 data) | 12.35% | 19 | 17 (2017 data) | 11.76% |
| B | 1770 | 1570 (2017 data) | 12.74% | 18.4 | 16.5 (2017 data) | 11.52% | ||
| C | 1720 | 1520 (2017 data) | 13.16% | 17.9 | 15.9 (2017 data) | 12.58% | ||
| D | 1670 | 1470 (2017 data) | 13.61% | 17.4 | ||||
