BEIJING — Millions of government workers across China were given surprise wage increases this week, people affected by the move said, as Beijing looks to boost spending to support the slowing economy.
Shoppers walk past small shops at an underground mall in Zhuhai, neighbouring Macau April 29, 2013.
The State Council Information Office, which speaks for China's government, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "Beijing's strategy seems to be encouraging consumption by people who are more willing to spend," said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. The move was not announced or detailed by Beijing. It was not immediately clear how the increase would be funded, what the total cost would be or the percentage increase in salaries.
That would support efforts to hit an economic growth target of around five per cent for 2025 despite the drag from a protracted property crisis, falling prices and the prospect of higher tariffs on exports to the United States. Others were critical. "How come you stimulate consumption by targeting a small group of civil servants?" a Hubei-based Weibo user said.
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