On October 8, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security website released the minimum wage standards for all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government (as of October 1, 2026).

The minimum wage standard is a statutory labor benchmark. It is a mandatory minimum labor remuneration that employers must pay to workers, set by the state to protect the basic livelihood of workers and their family members. It possesses the characteristics of being statutory, providing a bottom-line guarantee, and being compulsory. It is an important policy tool for the government to regulate wage distribution in the labor market, one of the key reference standards for the market-oriented allocation of human resources, and an international practice for government protection of workers under market economy conditions.

Minimum wage standards generally take two forms: a monthly minimum wage standard and an hourly minimum wage standard. The monthly minimum wage standard applies to full-time employed workers, while the hourly minimum wage standard applies to part-time employed workers.

In terms of the monthly minimum wage standard, Shanghai ranks first nationwide with a standard of 2,740 yuan; in terms of the hourly minimum wage standard, Beijing ranks first nationwide with a standard of 27.7 yuan.

Currently, Jiangsu's monthly minimum wage standards are: 2,660 yuan for Category I areas; 2,430 yuan for Category II areas; and 2,180 yuan for Category III areas. The hourly minimum wage standards for part-time employment are: 25 yuan for Category I areas; 23 yuan for Category II areas; and 21 yuan for Category III areas.

According to relevant regulations, items such as overtime pay, allowances for special working environments and conditions including middle shifts, night shifts, high temperatures, low temperatures, underground work, and toxic or hazardous conditions, housing provident fund contributions made by workers at the lower limit, and welfare benefits for workers stipulated by laws, regulations, and the state, are not considered components of the minimum wage standard. Employers shall pay these separately in accordance with regulations.

Internship remuneration paid by enterprises to students on replacement internships and labor remuneration for students on work-study programs shall be calculated on an hourly basis and must not be lower than the local hourly minimum wage standard for part-time employment.

If an employer violates minimum wage guarantee regulations, workers have the right to file complaints and reports, and may also apply for mediation, arbitration, or initiate legal proceedings in accordance with the law.