A pay rise for government workers sparks envy in China.

政府工作人員薪資上漲引發嫉妒。

So as news spread online in late December that people on the government payroll were being given a salary increase, some netizens were outraged.

12月下旬，編制工作人員加薪的訊息在網上傳開後，一些網友感到憤慨。

Those affected include civil servants as well as others paid by the government, such as teachers.

受到影響的包括公務員以及其他由政府支付薪酬的群體，如教師等。

Life can be tough as a state employee, but envy of them is growing.

作為政府僱員，生活可能並不容易，但公眾對他們的嫉妒情緒卻在不斷升溫。

A pay rise for government workers sparks anger and envy in China.

政府工作人員薪資上漲引發了中國民眾的憤怒與嫉妒。

So as news spread online in late December that people on the government payroll were being given a salary increase, some netizens were outraged.

因此，當12月下旬關於政府工作人員薪資上漲的訊息在網路上傳開時，一些網友感到憤怒。

On social media, however, users have been confirming their pay packets are bigger (though some say they have not been notified). 

然而，在社交媒體上，許多網友表示他們的工資已經有所增加（儘管也有一些人稱尚未收到正式通知）。

The raise is hardly massive: a few tens of dollars per month, backdated to July, according to examples cited on the internet. It would amount to an increase of a few percent on their basic pay. But it appears to be the first hike since 2021.

這次漲幅並不算大：根據網路上的一些例子，每月漲幅僅為幾十元人民幣，從7月起追溯計算，基本工資的增幅也僅為幾個百分點。但這似乎是自2021年以來的首次調薪。

In China’s private sector, many complain that jobs and wages are being cut as the country’s economy flounders.

在中國的私營部門，許多人抱怨隨著經濟面臨困境，公司在裁員、降薪。

But it appears to be the first hike since 2021. After several years of urging by the government that officials tighten their belts, it signals a little easing.

但這似乎是自2021年以來的首次漲薪。在政府多年來敦促官員們“勒緊褲腰帶”之後，這一舉措顯現出一些放鬆的跡象。

In recent years there have been widespread reports of cash-strapped local authorities delaying or cutting payments of other benefits.

近年來，關於地方政府因財政困窘而推遲或削減其他福利支付的報道屢見不鮮。

Pay—even when received on time and in full—has often failed to reflect the amount of effort put in. So workers are putting in less effort.

即便薪酬按時足額髮放，也往往難以真正體現勞動者的付出。因此，許多員工選擇減少工作投入。