The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has released it annual basic guideline for workers' salary increases, with the basic line at 15 percent and no more than 18 percent and no less than 5 percent. Each of the figures is 1 percent lower than last year, and the basic line is 4 points higher than last year's GDP growth.

The index is for reference when employees negotiate their salary with company owners, an official of the Xinjiang Human Resources and Social Security Department said at a press conference.

The department requires prefectures of the region to timely publicize the local basic line in accordance with economic factors, including labor costs.