Economy/Resources - 152. page
The Minimum Wage Went Up an Average of 14 Percent
Xinhua carried an article that was originally published in Economic Information Daily. According to the article, in the first half of 2014, the minimum wage in 12 provinces and cities went up an average of 14 percent. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security will soon be releasing more information. This increase is the lowest in recent years. The article stated that it was 22 percent in 2011; it was 20.2 percent in 2012; and it was 17 percent in 2013. The article also stated that, even though the “Minimum Wage Guideline” declared that the minimum wage increase was supposed to take place once every two years, from 2010 to 2014 the actual wage increases occurred once every 1.2 years.
Source: Xinhua, June 30, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2014-06/30/c_1111370014.htm
RFA: It May Cost 300 Million Yuan to Demolish a 270 Million Yuan Project Built Three Years Ago
Radio Free Asia reported that an order was given to demolish a tourist project in Hekou County, Yunnan Province that cost 270 million yuan (US$43 million) to build just three years ago. The cost of the demolition may be as much as 300 million yuan (US$48 million), which is higher than the cost of construction. The total loss of 600 million yuan is around three times Hekou County’s annual fiscal income for 2013. The report stated that the tourist project sits on the Hong River that separates China from Vietnam. It is 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) long covering 16,000 square meters (3.95 acres) and includes 150 commercial stores that can be rented. Initially, many parties objected to the project, but somehow, it was later approved at several upper levels. Currently about two thirds of the commercial space remains vacant.
Many people believe that it has become a major problem that the district government shows off its political accomplishments while wasting resources. A businessman from Guangdong Province told RFA that this is common, especially in rural areas. Another professor from the University of South Carolina said that China lacks a system to allow a stable investment environment for businesses. The government took the lead on this project and then revoked its previous commitment, a phenomenon that may harm social development.
Source: Radio Free Asia, June 20, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/kejiaowen/xql-06202014133916.html
China to Tighten Control over Land Use
On June 19, 2014, China’s Ministry of Land and Resources held a press conference to explain the new regulation issued on May 22 which will tighten control of the use of land in China.
Corporate Defaults on the Rise
On June 19, citing statistics published by UBS Securities, Security Times reported that defaults in China are likely to increase and occur on a large-scale.
Over 300 Cities Suffered Sharp Declines in Land Sales
People’s Daily: China Construction Bank to be the First RMB Settlement Bank in Britain
Farming Industry under Pressure with Climbing Labor Rates of Peasant Workers
Xinhua recently published an article on the pressure the farming industry in China faces. According to the article, the cost of labor for peasant workers on the outskirts of Beijing grew 89.7 percent over the last five years. The farming industry in the area is under pressure to save labor costs and to improve the efficiency of its farm equipment. The article said that even though more and more farmers are using agriculture machinery, there are still tasks that require a large number of peasant workers, especially skilled laborers. Farming experts also suggested that the government should provide the farmers and the peasant workers with more farm subsidies to help ease the pressure.
Source: Xinhua, June 15, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2014-06/15/c_1111149829.htm