For years, Guangdong officials have talked about the need to upgrade the local economy and shift away from reliance on low-wage labor.

Many in the middle lack the skills to move up and are pushed towards the low-wage end of the economy. Machinists and tradesmen become cashiers and call-centre workers.

Nantong is a coming city with rapid development on economy, and there the people who take low-level part time job are in the majority, which indicates that minimum wage plays an important role.