DRC智库建言丨最低工资标准确定和调整的国际经验及启示

Core Viewpoint - The minimum wage system is a crucial arrangement for protecting the basic rights of workers and serves as an important policy tool for regulating income distribution and expanding domestic demand [2] Group 1: Importance of Adjusting Minimum Wage - Reasonable adjustments to the minimum wage level play a significant role in increasing residents' income and expanding domestic demand [3] - Research indicates that raising the minimum wage directly increases the income of low-income workers and has a spillover effect on slightly higher-income workers [3] - The marginal propensity to consume among low- and middle-income groups is higher, meaning that an increase in income leads to a greater proportion of consumption compared to other income groups [3] Group 2: Impact on Employment and Business - Adjusting the minimum wage does not significantly affect fair competition among businesses and has a minimal impact on overall business profitability [4] - The increase in minimum wage may have both suppressive and expansive effects on employment, but the expansive effect is currently greater in the context of China's macroeconomic situation [4] - Raising the minimum wage can stimulate domestic demand and create new growth points, which is essential for addressing the current economic challenges of excess production capacity and insufficient demand [4] Group 3: International Experience and Standards - The level at which minimum wage should be set is a primary issue faced by countries, with many using the ratio of minimum wage to average wage as a reference [6] - In 2022, over 80% of countries had a minimum wage that was more than 30% of the average wage, while China's ratio has been declining [7] - Various countries employ different mechanisms for adjusting minimum wage, including government-led, tripartite negotiation, and automatic indexation methods [8] Group 4: Current Status and Trends in China - Since its implementation in 1995, China's minimum wage has been determined regionally, with significant variations across provinces [9] - The average minimum wage in China has increased from 182 RMB/month in 1995 to 2029 RMB/month in 2025, reflecting a growth rate of 8.4% annually [9] - The ratio of minimum wage to average wage in China has significantly decreased, currently standing at around 25.1%, which is lower than many comparable countries [10][11] Group 5: Issues and Policy Recommendations - The current minimum wage system in China has inconsistencies in determining and adjusting standards, leading to a lack of binding methods [13] - Local governments face conflicts of interest when setting minimum wage levels, as raising wages can increase fiscal burdens [14] - Recommendations include establishing a unified method for determining minimum wage based on its ratio to average wage and gradually increasing this ratio to around 30% [15][16]