Human Resources

A modest pay increase in China’s financial hub reflects wider national efforts to balance economic pressures with social stability From 1 July 2025, Shanghai raised its monthly minimum wage from RMB 2,690 (£288) to RMB 2,740 (£294), a relatively conservative increase of less than 2%. The city’s hourly minimum wage also climbed from RMB 24 (£2.57) to RMB 25 (£2.68). While Shanghai retains the highest minimum wage in the country, …

Expanding your business into China opens the door to one of the world’s most dynamic and opportunity-rich markets. However, hiring and building a team in this vast and complex environment demands a deep understanding of local customs, laws and regional nuances. Drawing on the combined insights of experts from the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) and Yingke London, this guide explores the key considerations for hiring in China, from choosing the …

Business travel to China can be an exciting opportunity, but preparation is key – especially when it comes to visas, connectivity, payments, and transport. To help you navigate your trip smoothly, here’s a quick, practical guide covering the must-know tech and logistics tips for business travellers. Secure the right visa in advance Obtaining a visa for China requires careful preparation, as the process varies depending on the purpose of travel. …

Spring Festival — also known as Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year — brings a mix of celebration and operational challenges for businesses in China. While the holiday is a time of joy and cultural significance, it also creates unique disruptions, including temporary shutdowns, heightened employee turnover, and logistical bottlenecks. To navigate this critical period, companies must plan strategically, as China Briefing’s Qian Zhou explains Spring Festival 2025 will …

Finding and hiring staff on the ground in China is a key step for companies that want to export to the Chinese market. Hawksford details the key human resource considerations for companies exporting to China, from hiring to firing China’s labour framework and the underlying HR complications impact foreign investments in the local economy. Finding and hiring staff in China is a delicate and complex process, especially for foreign SMEs, …

Paul French caught up with author Ralph Jennings to get his advice on a few especially puzzling aspects of Chinese work life Ralph Jennings lived for seven years in Beijing and more than that in Taipei. He’s worked as a news editor with the state-owned China Daily, an advice columnist for the 21st Century weekly in Beijing and as a reporter for numerous international media outlets, including Reuters. He also …

Terry Clarke, Founder & Facilitator, Upskill Consulting Group, introduces some of the communication styles, working styles and cultural nuances that influence business interactions in China and how UK companies should navigate them Entering the Chinese market offers UK companies a wealth of opportunities but also a unique set of challenges, especially in personal development and training. Based on my experience in Sino-British business interactions, I offer the following insights to …

As China enjoys a five-day public holiday, debate about the country’s unusual ‘compensatory working day’ system has once again resurfaced online, so what is it exactly? China is currently in the middle of a public holiday to mark Labor Day on 1 May. It’s a five-day break from work for many Chinese people – or is it? Two days of the holiday fall on Saturday and Sunday, while the other …

Minimum wages in China continue to rise. Over the past couple of years, more than 20 provinces in China have raised their minimum wage standard, including Beijing, Guangdong, Hainan, Shanghai and Xinjiang. So, what is the minimum wage in China in 2023? Currently, Shanghai has the highest monthly minimum wage among China’s 31 provinces (RMB 2,690/£303 per month) and Beijing has the highest hourly minimum wage (RMB 26.4/£2.97 per hour). …

3CS Corporate Solicitors offer a simple guide to the different types of UK work visas for businesses that need to bring Chinese staff to the UK Chinese trade is a vital component of the UK economy. According to UK government data, China was the UK’s 4th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2022, accounting for 6.5% of total UK trade. In 2021, the inward …