The city of Beijing recently announced a new minimum wage rate, but the figure is not enough to cover basic living costs.
Authorities also said in its announcement that the rate was not mandatory, but only a guideline.
The bureau added that “the minimum wage is only a theoretical minimum. In actual application, companies don’t need to follow this limit—except for in extreme cases.”
![A woman and a girl posing for a portrait at an artist stall on a street in the 798 art district in Beijing, China on Oct. 18, 2020. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2F24%2FGettyImages-1229159937-600x400.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Each Chinese city has its own tax and fee standards. In Beijing, a resident doesn’t need to pay income tax if his monthly income is lower than 5,000 yuan ($758.5).
According to different online Chinese income calculation tools, a Beijing employee on a 2,200-yuan monthly salary can receive about 1,650 yuan ($250) per month after deductions.
In major Chinese cities, the cost of living is relatively high.
A monthly salary of 1,650 yuan can pay for renting an apartment about 200 square feet. Many Beijing residents opt for renting a small room instead. In recent years, media reports have highlighted scenarios where more than ten people live in the same three-bedroom apartment—a potential fire hazard.
![Baby formula is pictured on shelves at a supermarket in Beijing on August 7, 2013. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F06%2F15%2FGettyImages-175714628-600x399.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
The minimum wage is also insufficient for the city’s high food prices.
At the Beijing wholesale market Xinfadi, the cheapest pork product was 16.5 yuan per 500 grams (about $2.27 per pound), according to its website. Pork is the most popular choice for protein in China.
Meanwhile, a Big Mac at McDonald’s cost 23 yuan (about $3.49).