Minimum wage in Beijing gets a boost

Beijing has raised its minimum wage this month to 1,560 yuan ($251.36) per month, up 11.4 percent from the previous figure of 1,400 yuan. The amount is almost twice the minimum wage of 800 yuan that was the municipal standard prior to July of 2010, the Beijing News reported.

The minimum wage of part-time employees has also increased - from 15.2 yuan per hour to 16.9 yuan - and from 36.6 yuan to 40.8 yuan during legal holidays.

According to the Beijing Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, the minimum wage refers to one's net income; neither social insurance fees nor the subsidy for overtime work is included in the figure.