Only nine of 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland have raised the minimum wage this year, data from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) showed.

This compares to last year's 27 provincial-level regions that raised the minimum wage by an average rate of 14 percent. In 2014, 19 regions on the mainland increased their minimum wage by an average of 14.1 percent.

According to the MOHRSS, Shanghai has the highest minimum monthly wage of 2,190 yuan (about 320 U.S. dollars). Beijing tops the hourly minimum wage list by raising its standard to 21 yuan per hour in September this year, said the ministry.

City and provincial governments in China have the authority to set the minimum wage standards, and are required to adjust the level at least once every two years.

China's GDP grew 6.7 percent year on year in the third quarter, holding steady with the previous two quarters, but still the slowest growth since the global financial crisis.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2016)