BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Average wage income of
workers in China's monopoly sectors, such as telecom, finance and tobacco
industries, has reached three times the national average, while non-wage income
of workers in these sectors enlarged the gap with the national average up to 10
fold as much.
"Income is now deviating from the contributions of
staffers in the monopoly sectors," said Bu Zhengfa, vice minister of Labor and
Social Security, at a recent forum on salary management.
Bu cited an example of a worker in a civic electric
power company. His monthly salary approaches approximately 6,000 yuan (about 750
US dollars), but his annual income could amount to 150,000 yuan (some 18,750
dollars) with his bonuses, allowances and housing accumulation fund, which could
reaches about ten times the national average.
Relatively exorbitant salary of monopoly firms,
mostly state-owned ones, has become the most eminent problem of China's income
distribution system, Bu acknowledged.
An interview by People's Daily at two leading
universities in Shanghai showed that many of their graduates are eager to work
in the sectors of tobacco, telecom and petroleum, no matter what positions they
might be offered.
"With a guaranteed high salary and job security, I
feel secured in monopoly sectors," A university graduate surnamed Wang, who just
signed his job contract with a telecom firm, was quoted as saying.
Wang is expecting to earn 4,000 yuan (about 500 US
dollars) a month upon his entry of the firm, while the monthly salary for his
peers is predicted to attain an average of 2,000 yuan (250 dollars) in these two
years.
"Lack of strict regulations constitutes the major
cause for monopoly firms to enjoy excess profits," said Prof. Wang Zeke, with
elite Zhongshan (Dr. Sun Yates-sen) University in Guangzhou. He suggests the
government step up its pace to do away with monopoly and take prompt measures to
restrict the profits of monopoly sectors.
In China, the government has stopped levying profits
from state-owned firms since 1992 to encourage their development. With relevant
preferential policies and their right to use state-owned assets, most
state-owned firms enhanced their monopoly status in their respective sectors and
enjoyed higher profits over recent years.
The central government has begun taking measures to
control the salary scope in monopoly firms. Some telecom and financial companies
have even been urged to restrain the salaries for their employees.
Su Hainan, director of the salary research department
with Labor and Social Security Ministry, said relevant ministries are
considering of collecting more taxes from state-owned firms which have a large
proportion of state-owned assets. Enditem
