Hua Xia Shi Bao·2026-01-17 05:17Core Viewpoint - The recent disclosure of salary information for over 80 central enterprises by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) highlights the structure, level, and distribution of executive compensation, reflecting a commitment to transparency and accountability in state-owned enterprises [2][3]. Salary Structure and Distribution - The highest annual salary for a central enterprise leader in 2024 is 978,500 yuan, held by the chairman of PetroChina, Dai Houliang, followed closely by the former chairman of China Mobile at 972,100 yuan and the former chairman of CNOOC at 966,900 yuan, all from the energy and communication sectors [3]. - Overall, the salary distribution among central enterprise leaders shows a clear stratification, closely related to the industry characteristics and operational challenges, with energy and communication sectors leading in compensation [4]. - Leaders of energy and power central enterprises, such as Huaneng Group and China Southern Power Grid, have salaries exceeding 950,000 yuan, while those in construction, manufacturing, and logistics typically earn between 600,000 and 950,000 yuan, and those in public service sectors earn between 400,000 and 600,000 yuan [3][4]. Industry Differences - There are significant salary disparities among central enterprises based on industry, with energy and communication sectors commanding higher salaries due to their monopolistic nature and substantial impact on the national economy, while sectors like forestry and pharmaceuticals, which focus on social welfare, tend to have lower compensation levels [4]. - Some central enterprises involved in overseas operations, such as China Resources Group, have additional overseas allowances that increase their overall compensation, with the highest total compensation reaching 1,351,200 yuan [4]. Salary Reform and Mechanism - The salary structure for central enterprise leaders consists of a basic salary, performance-based salary, and long-term incentive income, with performance evaluations directly influencing compensation [5][9]. - The 2024 salary determination aligns with the SASAC's performance reform direction, ensuring that compensation is closely tied to performance, with a significant portion of salaries being variable based on performance outcomes [9][10]. - The mechanism for salary determination includes comprehensive assessments of various factors, including safety, social responsibility, and innovation, with penalties for significant operational failures [10]. Transparency and Accountability - The recent salary disclosure is part of ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in central enterprises, with detailed public reporting of executive names, positions, salaries, and benefits [10]. - To improve public trust, it is suggested that the disclosure should also include the rationale behind salary structures and performance evaluations, not just the figures [10].