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Chong has it right, and hit the head of the nail with the hammer!!! This is exactly how the Chinese economy and life as a whole works in China for the majority of it's population.
It's no good coming out here and saying, that there is a minimum wage system working in China, because there just isn't !!! And i don't really care what Province or City your talking about, there will ALWAYS be far too many that earn nowhere near any of the figures that are being quoted in this thread.
As Chong, has stated, families will have to combine there earnings to enable them to have a decent roof over there heads and enough food for there needs. They will only buy luxury goods by saving a little each month to pay for them. By the way, anything to do with TVs, don't seem to come under luxury goods in China, ...to them it's an absolute necessity for all families, even rural families!! ...haha!!
As a footnote, .... Several Chinese workers , male and female, will have two jobs going at any one time. If they manage to make 1200 RMB from those two jobs a month, they will think there doing rather well....
David....