Minimum wages going up across the country

Pay hikes for workers is an attempt to help companies hire laborers

GUANGZHOU - Authorities in Guangdong province will raise the minimum wage by 21.1 percent on average for both corporate employees and part-time workers beginning May 1 after the province reported a shortage of workers early this year.

"The wage rise is being introduced to help companies attract more workers," said Lin Wangping, deputy director of Guangdong provincial human resources and social security department.