URUMQI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Western China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has raised its minimum monthly and hourly wages, local authorities announced on Friday.

After the wage hike, which took effect on June 1, minimum monthly salaries -- before deductions for pension, unemployment, medical insurance and housing payments -- were raised to 1,340 yuan (211 U.S. dollars), 1,140 yuan, 1,060 yuan and 980 yuan under four subdivisions. They have been increased by an average of 18.95 percent, according to a press release issued by the regional human resources department.

Minimum hourly wages, which have been upped by 1.8 yuan, now range from 9.8 yuan to 13.4 yuan across the region.

China adopted a minimum wage system in 1993, under which base rates in different provinces, municipalities or autonomous regions are decided by local governments.