Monthly salary

THE average monthly salary of Shenzhen employees in 2017 was 8,348 yuan (US$1,252.75), which will be used as part of the formula to calculate employee pensions, social insurance and other forms of compensation from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, said the authorities.

Meanwhile, the contribution base for the social insurance premiums for individuals will be adjusted accordingly. The upper limits of the contribution base for pension insurance, maternity insurance and work-related injury insurance will increase to 25,044 yuan, and the lower limits of the contribution base for medical insurance will rise to 5,009 yuan.

Checkpoint U-Station

THE country’s first volunteer U-Station at a checkpoint was opened in the North Square of Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint on Wednesday morning.

The U-Station aims to provide on-site volunteer services, such as passenger guidance and consultations on customs clearance, for passengers crossing the border. It has been reported that since the opening of the checkpoint the passenger flow volume has increased from nearly 60,000 to 133,000 per day. The maximum number of passengers in a single day reached 189,000.

Gold brick smuggling

SHENZHEN Bay Customs recently caught a Hong Kong driver for smuggling 44 kilograms of gold to Hong Kong in a vehicle with both Hong Kong and Guangdong license plates.

The gold had a market value of 10 million yuan.

On the night of July 3, customs officers found a secret compartment under the central armrest when they inspected the vehicle. After dismounting the armrest, they found 44 gold bricks weighing 44 kilograms. The driver has been criminally detained for further investigation.