As local fiscal revenues continue to decline in China, teachers and civil servants in several provinces are experiencing wage arrears, allowance cuts, and even discounted payments. Affected regions include Henan, Shandong, and Guangdong. Many respondents reported that their incomes have been reduced to just their "basic salary," with paychecks frequently delayed, sparking discontent among grassroots civil servants.
Recently, teachers' salaries and benefits have been delayed in several districts of Zhengzhou, Henan Province. Civil servants are now receiving only a "basic salary," which no longer includes various allowances and subsidies. Our station has also learned that similar situations have occurred in Shandong, Guangdong, and other regions. Multiple sources familiar with the situation revealed that grassroots civil servants' monthly salaries, originally around 5,000 yuan, have been reduced to just 3,000 yuan after the cancellation of benefits, and payments are often delayed.
Retired teacher Jia Lingmin told Radio Free Asia on Friday (9th) that financial constraints were the main reason: "They (the government) have been financially tight since last year, and some civil servants have been complaining that they only have their basic salary... Now they have lost all their subsidies. The basic salary is only about 2,000 to 3,000 yuan. They say it's around 3,000 yuan."
The chain reaction after the collapse of land finance
Jia Lingmin analyzed that the tight finances of local governments are closely related to the sharp drop in land transfer income and the sluggish real estate market: "Once the land finance was withdrawn and the real estate market weakened, the finances of various local governments became very tight."
She specifically mentioned Zhengzhou's Erqi District, which has even been designated a "deadbeat" by the court: "The court has designated the Erqi District government as a 'deadbeat'...it's like they took out a bank loan and can't repay it. Legal entities in Erqi District are not allowed to fly or take the high-speed rail."
Online public opinion also reflects this trend. An account on the overseas social media platform, "Teacher Li is not your teacher," posted a graphic and text message pointing out that teachers in multiple districts of Zhengzhou are facing unpaid salaries. In a post on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), numerous teachers responded in the comment section: "Nothing in Digital District (Erqi District)," "Nothing in Huiji District," "Nothing in Gang District," "Nothing in Zhongyuan District," "Nothing in Dong District," "Nothing anywhere," and "Salaries are two months in arrears," "Performance appraisals are also in arrears," and "Homeroom Teacher Fees are also in arrears."
Shandong resident Li Xia confirmed that not only teachers are facing wage arrears, but even civil servants are not immune. "I've heard that in some places, even civil servants haven't received their wages yet... Now there are delays of ten days or even half a month. Some counties and districts have wage arrears and delayed payments. Right now, many townships are facing serious wage arrears."
Not only teachers but also civil servants are “owed wages”
She added that grassroots civil servants at the township and neighborhood committee levels used to earn around 5,000 yuan a month, but now often only receive 3,000 or 4,000 yuan. "They're paid 3,000 or 4,000 yuan. The higher-ups are trying to reduce salaries and delay them a bit, as they did last year."
Zhang Cheng, who works in the construction industry in Dongguan, Guangdong, said wage arrears are commonplace in both state-owned and private enterprises. "Teachers' salaries were already delayed even in the early years, even before the economy was so bad, let alone now. Salaries are being cut everywhere across the country, with annual salaries being cut by tens of thousands of yuan."
He also mentioned the experiences of friends in the tax system: "Some people in the tax and finance departments say their income might not even catch up to what it was in the 1990s. I don't know why they're so exaggerated. This is just an extreme example I've heard."
Zhang Cheng also revealed that the so-called "distant-sea fishing" and "disciplinary inspection commission fishing" actions recently carried out by local governments are actually "special measures" taken to solve financial difficulties.
This situation has affected not only the economically developed provinces of central and eastern China, but also the southwestern region. Reports indicate that district-level government agencies in Kunming, Yunnan, have failed to pay full salaries and year-end performance bonuses for three consecutive months since the end of last year, with allowances and overtime pay virtually eliminated. This station previously reported that doctors at a hospital in Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, were being pursued by higher authorities for five years of night shift pay and performance-based wages. Authorities claimed the funds were "illegally distributed" and therefore needed to be reclaimed.
According to Article 50 of the Labor Law of the People's Republic of China, employers may not delay the payment of wages to employees without reason. Even if they are facing financial difficulties, they must make the payment within one month and file a record with the competent authorities.
