The minimum wage is related to the protection of workers' basic rights and interests, and has been intensively raised in many places since the beginning of this year. According to Xinhua Viewpoint reporters, as of now, more than ten provinces have raised their minimum wage standards this year. Who will benefit from raising the standards? What impact does it have on workers and businesses? What other adjustments and changes will be made next? Which provinces have made adjustments? How much has it increased? On November 15th, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region issued a notice on adjusting the minimum wage standard in the autonomous region. Starting from December 1st, the monthly minimum wage for Class I, Class II, and Class III areas in the region will be increased from 1980 yuan, 1910 yuan, and 1850 yuan respectively to 2270 yuan, 2200 yuan, and 2140 yuan, an increase of 290 yuan each compared to before the adjustment; The minimum hourly wage for part-time workers has increased by 1.6 yuan each compared to before the adjustment. As of now, more than ten provinces including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hunan have successively raised their minimum wage standards this year. The monthly minimum wage in most provinces has increased by around 200 yuan, with the highest increase being 290 yuan; Some provinces have seen an increase of around 100 yuan. From the adjusted level, there are more than 20 provinces in China with the first tier minimum wage exceeding 2000 yuan. The minimum wage standard represents a protective line for the government in the labor market, used to ensure that the minimum labor remuneration that employers should pay to workers can meet their personal and family basic living needs Chang Kai, a professor of the School of Labor and Personnel of Renmin University of China, said, "The economic and social development and income levels of different regions are quite different, and the minimum wage standards will also be different, and most of them will be divided into different grades in the same province." Yunnan Province has raised the monthly minimum wage standards for the first, second and third categories of regions from 1990 yuan, 1840 yuan, 1690 yuan to 2070 yuan, 1920 yuan, and 1770 yuan respectively since October 1. Despite paying employees higher than the minimum wage standard, Mr. Qin, the head of a small supermarket in Xishan District, Kunming, still adjusted the salaries of two employees from 2700 yuan to 2850 yuan. The change in minimum wage can provide reference and guidance for employers. Following it and raising wages in a timely manner can help improve employees' lives, enhance work enthusiasm and satisfaction, "Mr. Qin told reporters. According to the reporter's understanding, the minimum wage does not include overtime pay, night shifts, and special work allowances such as high temperatures. In most regions, the minimum wage includes the "five insurances and one fund" paid by individuals. At present, the majority of companies in society offer labor prices exceeding the minimum wage, but there are also a few companies with weaker profitability where the salaries of grassroots employees are relatively low. The 2023 enterprise salary survey information recently released by the Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Hunan Province shows that the lowest 10% of wholesale and retail service personnel, road passenger service personnel, sanitation personnel, security personnel, and public tourism venue service personnel have the lowest salary, with an average monthly salary close to the minimum wage level. In the current economic and employment situation, moderately adjusting the minimum wage is an important measure to meet the bottom line of people's livelihood, which will promote the income increase of some low wage workers; At the same time, it can also improve the wage security level for newly entered workers in the labor market, avoid some employers intentionally lowering wages, and effectively protect the basic rights and interests of workers Chang Kai said. Who will benefit? Does it affect geometry? Experts say that although the minimum wage mainly plays a bottom line role in China's salary system, the beneficiaries of the increase are far more than low-income workers, and it will also have a positive impact on the income levels of other workers. From the actual situation, after some companies adjust their minimum wage according to changes in the minimum wage standard, other levels of wages, employee overtime pay, etc. will also increase accordingly. There are also some 'low base salary+high commission' workers, such as salespeople, intermediaries, live streamers, etc. Their total income may be considerable, but their monthly income is unstable. Adjusting the minimum wage standard can improve their treatment during low performance periods Chang Kai said. The minimum wage is also the benchmark and reference line for a series of benefits such as unemployment insurance, sick leave pay, etc. For example, during the period of illness or non work related injury treatment, the sick leave salary or disease relief fee for employees shall not be less than 80% of the minimum wage standard. In most regions of our country, the standard for unemployment insurance benefits is 90% of the minimum wage standard. The reporter noticed that many places have established a linkage adjustment mechanism between the minimum wage standard and the unemployment insurance standard. Driven by the adjustment of the minimum wage, starting from January 1, 2024, the standard for unemployment insurance benefits in Hangzhou will be increased from the original 2052 yuan/month to 2241 yuan/month, and the highest standard for unemployment insurance benefits in Suzhou will be increased from 2280 yuan/month to 2490 yuan/month; Starting from February 1st, Hubei Province will adjust the standard for distributing unemployment insurance benefits in the province from the original four levels to three levels by region, and increase it to 1989 yuan/month, 1755 yuan/month, and 1620 yuan/month by region. In addition, according to relevant regulations, the salary of the employee during the probationary period and the remuneration of the dispatched employee during the temporary absence of work after being returned to the labor dispatch unit shall not be lower than the minimum wage in the location of the employer. Therefore, raising the minimum wage standard is also beneficial for improving the bottom line of these benefits. Since the beginning of this year, many provinces such as Zhejiang, Henan, and Hunan have issued notices to increase the disability allowance standards for on-the-job workers after adjusting the minimum wage standards. Some provinces have proposed that if the adjusted disability allowance is lower than the first level of the province's monthly minimum wage standard, it should be supplemented to the first level of the province's monthly minimum wage standard. The moderate increase in minimum wage will play a driving role, bring comprehensive effects of improving people's livelihoods, benefit workers, and also help promote consumption Chang Kai said. What adjustments will there be in the future? Wages are connected to workers on one end and to enterprises on the other. When and how much the minimum wage will be adjusted, while highlighting the function of ensuring basic livelihood, it is also necessary to properly consider the ability of enterprises to bear it. Especially in the face of complex and ever-changing domestic and international environments, scientific calculation and coordinated planning have become even more important Shen Jianfeng, Director of the Academic Committee of the Law School of China Institute of Labor Relations, believes that. Shen Jianfeng stated that the minimum wage is generally adjusted every two to three years. Various regions will refer to factors such as the minimum living expenses of local employees and their dependents, the consumer price index of urban residents, the social insurance premiums and housing provident fund paid by individual employees, the average wage of employees, the level of economic development, and employment status to calculate the minimum wage standard. Local human resources and social security departments will also evaluate the adjustment of minimum wage through the distribution of questionnaires and other forms, in order to reasonably determine the standards. The reporter found that Beijing, Shanghai, Hebei, Anhui, Guizhou and other places have implemented new minimum wage standards in 2023. In addition, with more than ten provinces adjusted this year, the vast majority of provinces have completed this round of minimum wage adjustments. People are the first element of enterprise development, and enterprises must strictly comply with relevant regulations. If workers find that their wages are lower than the local minimum wage standard, they can report and complain to the labor security department Shen Jianfeng said. The reporter learned that enhancing the scientific and rational adjustment of the minimum wage standard, gradually increasing the proportion of the minimum wage standard to the average social wage, will be one of the key points for the next reform of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. On the basis of minimum wage guarantee, on the one hand, it is necessary to improve the system of enterprise salary survey and information release, and perfect the system of salary guidance line; On the other hand, collective bargaining can play a greater role in determining wage standards through negotiation, forming a mechanism for enterprises to independently adjust wages, establishing a sound mechanism for normal wage growth, and creating a virtuous cycle of improving employee benefits and increasing enterprise efficiency Shen Jianfeng said. (New Society)