中国江苏省上调最低工资标准/Province's wage rise fuels belief that others in China will follow

　　就在中国政府的注意力从刺激经济转向通胀抬头之际，中国第二大出口省份江苏省提高最低工资标准的决定，使得人们对其它省市将很快加以效仿的预期升温。
　　A decision by the province that is China's second biggest exporter to raise minimum wage rates has heightened expectations that other provinces and cities will soon follow, just as the central government's attention is shifting from economic stimulus to rising inflation.

　　上周，出口超过巴西和南非两国总和的江苏省，将每月最低工资标准提高13%至960元人民币（合140美元）。这是两年来中国首次调整最低工资标准。
　　Eastern Jiangsu province, which exports more than Brazil and South Africa combined, raised its monthly minimum wage rate by 13 per cent to Rmb960 ($140) last week. It was the first time the rate had been adjusted in two years.

　　在一轮上调最低工资标准的浪潮可能来临之际，有迹象显示，在大规模政府刺激方案推动中国经济2009年下半年迅速复苏之后，通胀压力正日渐加大。中国政府官员正争论是否减缓放贷速度，及开始让人民币升值，以压制通胀预期。
　　The potential round of minimum wage increases comes amid signs that inflationary pressures are picking up in the Chinese economy after a rapid recovery in the second half of 2009 fuelled by a massive government stimulus programme. Government officials are debating whether to slow the pace of new loans and begin appreciating the currency to dampen inflationary expectations.

　　《中国经济季刊》(China Economic Quarterly)编辑葛艺豪(Arthur Kroeber)表示：“这可能是加薪的一个信号。由于劳动力市场趋紧导致工资水平逐渐上升，中国正在出现系统性通胀。”
　　“This could be a red flag about wage inflation,” says Arthur Kroeber, editor of China Economic Quarterly. “Inflation in China is becoming systemic because of rising wages caused by a tighter labour market.”

　　去年，在全球金融危机之后，地方政府不愿提高最低工资标准，以免给本来就在苦苦挣扎的工厂造成额外压力。但现在官员们相信，中国出口行业最糟糕的时期已经结束，他们更愿意解决工人们所关心的问题。
　　Last year, in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, local governments were reluctant to raise wage rates and put additional strain on already struggling factories. But now that officials are confident the worst is over for China's export sector, they are more willing to address workers' concerns.

　　中国劳工通讯(China Labor Bulletin)的杰弗里•克罗塞尔(Geoffrey Crothall)表示：“中国经济正重新开始提速。通胀水平和基本生活成本日益上升。进行一些调整符合地方政府的利益。”
　　“The economy is picking up again,” said Geoffrey Crothall, of the China Labour Bulletin. “Inflation and basic cost of living are rising. It's in local governments' interests to make some accommodation.”

　　江苏调整具有高度象征性意义的最低工资标准，也反映出为了吸引中国春节假期后外出打工的民工，不同地区之间的竞争日益激烈。预计邻近江苏省的上海市将从4月1日起，将最低工资标准上调10%以上。
　　Jiangsu's adjustment of the highly symbolic minimum wage also reflects growing competition among different regions to attract migrant workers after the Chinese new year holiday, next week. Neighbouring Shanghai is expected to raise its rate by double-digits on April 1.

　　北京以及中国最大出口省份广东省的各大城市，正考虑在未来几周（而不是几个月）调整最低工资标准。广东省人大代表甚至建议将最低工资标准与消费者价格指数挂钩。
　　Beijing and cities in southern Guangdong province, the country's biggest exporter, are considering adjustments over the coming few weeks, rather than months. Deputies to Guangdong's people's congress have even suggested linking minimum wage levels to the consumer price index.

　　去年12月份的中国消费者价格指数为1.9%，高于11月份的0.7%。一些经济学家认为，这是通胀水平普遍上升的开始，可能推动政府收紧政策。
　　The consumer price index rose from 0.7 per cent in November to 1.9 per cent in December, which some economists believe is the start of a concerted rise in inflation that could prompt authorities to tighten policy.

　　FT中文网