The labor and social security bureaus in Shanghai and Beijing municipalities announced Friday to raise their minimum salary standards as of July 1.

In Shanghai, the lowest monthly pay has risen from 635 yuan (76.8 US dollars) to 690 yuan (83.4 US dollars).

The minimum pay of the non full-time work grows from 5.5 yuan (67 US cents) to 6 yuan (73 US cents) per hour, excluding the social insurance charges.

Meanwhile, the minimum salary standard in Beijing rose from 545 yuan (65.9 US dollars) to 580 yuan (70.1 US dollars), while the non full-time pay rises from 6.8 yuan (82 US cents) to 7.3 yuan (88 US cents) per hour.

The pension of enterprises retirees in Beijing will augment by 120 yuan (14.5 US dollars) on average, a growth rate of about 10 percent.

The new standards are applicable to all employees in the two municipalities, including the retired people, rural migrant workers and casual laborers employed by private industrial and commercial firms.

(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2005)