26 provinces, cities and regions increase minimum wage

According to China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, twenty-six municipalities, provinces and regions in the country have raised the minimum wage for their workers.

The areas include major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, as well as the provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang, Henan, and Guizhou. The raises came into effect on December 31st, 2013. The minimum wage in these 26 areas grew on average by about eighteen percent. Currently, Shanghai has the highest monthly minimum wage, at 1,620 yuan or 268 US dollars. But in 2013, workers at all Chinese companies had their monthly paychecks rise on average by 8.5 percent. The ministry also said that the income gap between management- and entry-level employees was shrinking.