The Yunnan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, with approval from the provincial government, has officially issued a notice to adjust minimum wage standards across the province, effective September 1, 2026.

The primary goal of this adjustment is to strengthen the protective role of the minimum wage, promote reasonable salary growth for low-income workers, and better safeguard the basic living needs of low-income earners and their dependents. This move is also intended to improve overall livelihood conditions and enhance the public's sense of well-being and gain.

Following the revision, the province will continue to categorize counties into three distinct tiers based on their economic and social development levels, with each tier subject to its own specific wage benchmarks.

The first tier covers core urban districts of Kunming, including Wuhua, Panlong, Xishan, Guandu, Chenggong, and Jinning, as well as Anning City and Songming County. Here, the monthly minimum wage will rise from 2,170 to 2,270 yuan, while the hourly minimum wage increases from 21 to 22 yuan.

The second tier applies to other counties under Kunming's jurisdiction, Dongchuan District, county-level cities and municipal districts in other prefectures, along with Yulong and Deqin counties. For these areas, the monthly minimum wage will increase from 2,020 to 2,120 yuan, and the hourly rate from 20 to 21 yuan.

The third tier covers all remaining counties across the province. In these areas, the monthly minimum wage will go up from 1,870 to 1,970 yuan, while the hourly minimum wage moves from 19 to 20 yuan.

Under the Yunnan Minimum Wage Regulations, the minimum wage represents the lowest remuneration an employer must pay a worker who has performed normal labor within statutory working hours or the time agreed upon in the labor contract. This amount includes social insurance premiums and housing fund contributions payable personally by the worker, but excludes overtime pay, allowances for special or extra labor consumption, non-wage welfare benefits stipulated by laws and regulations, and any housing or meal subsidies provided in cash by the employer.

The monthly minimum wage standard applies to full-time employees, while the hourly standard is for part-time workers. If an employer pays wages below the established minimum, workers may file a complaint with the human resources and social security department, or pursue mediation, arbitration, or legal proceedings as permitted by law.