BEIJING, Sept. 29 -- Beijing set its minimum wage standard at 18.70 yuan (2.9 U.S. dollars) per hour from Sept. 28, the highest in the country, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) said on Tuesday.

China's northeast Heilongjiang Province's minimum wage of 11 yuan per hour makes it the lowest in the country, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the southern city of Shenzhen set the highest minimum monthly wage at 2,030 yuan, while Heilongjiang had the lowest minimum monthly wage of 1,160 yuan per month.

Nineteen regions on the mainland increased their minimum wage at an average rate of 14.1 percent in 2014, said the MOHRSS, adding that growth was faster than the planned annual average growth rate, but slower than the previous three years.

China is expected to achieve its average annual minimum wage growth target of 13 percent for the five-year period ending in 2015.

City and provincial governments have the authority to set the minimum wage standards, 27 regions raised the minimum wage by an average of 17 percent in 2013, while minimum wage hikes in 25 regions surpassed 20 percent on average in 2011 and 2012.