Hot Words

最低工资标准(zuidi gongzi biaozhun)

Minimum Wage Threshold

A regulation requiring employers to pay employees minimal wages. Usually with the minimum monthly or hourly standard, this is part of government efforts to safeguard ordinary workers' fundamental rights and interests and ensure a steady growth in their income.

Promulgated by the then Ministry of Labor and Social Security on Dec 30, 2003, the regulation was put into effect on March 1 the next year. The threshold, calculated according to local prices, average income and other reference factors, should be raised at least once every two years, the ministry demanded. Every region can work out its own minimum wages standards.

Recently, a temporary moratorium is put on the frequency of implementing the minimum wage threshold to help some struggling enterprises fend off the upcoming economic cold.

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(China Daily 12/11/2008 page8)