On 26 September 2003, the Beijing Office of Labour and Social Security announced that the minimum wage for Beijing was to increase by 30 Yuan to 495Yuan (US £59.8), effective as of 1 January 2004.

The minimum wage applies in theory to employees in companies, institutes and government departments. It is generally not applied to the thousands of migrants in Beijing working without contracts in its factories.

According to official reports, all cities in China now have an official minimum wage since Shanghai introduced one in 1993, closely followed by Beijing in 1994 (210 Yuan)