Shenzhen lowers job pay scales

SHENZHEN: The government in this southern city has lowered the income benchmarks for the first time since 1999 to soften the impact of the financial crisis on local companies.

The municipal labor authority issues the income benchmarks annually to serve as a reference for 566 types of jobs in the city.

The highest-level and medium-level benchmarks stand at 23,700 yuan ($3,470) and 2,460 yuan per month, respectively, decreasing by 8.5 percent and 3.9 percent each from last year.