Several Chinese universities move salary payments for staff to digital yuan wallets

Several universities in China have issued notices saying salaries for on-staff employees will be paid through digital yuan wallets, according to a report by Cailian Press citing Southern Daily. Yangzhou University’s finance office said in a notice dated Oct. 20 that, following a preliminary notice from the provincial finance department, salaries for on-staff employees, including personnel agency staff, will be distributed through digital yuan wallets starting in November 2026. Affected staff were asked to complete wallet opening and upgrades by Oct. 23 based on their current payroll card arrangements. Nantong University said it had received a notice from the provincial finance department and will also begin paying salaries through digital yuan wallets from November 2026, with staff required to complete wallet opening and upgrades by Oct. 30. The university added that salary and performance pay are issued to two separate cards, and both must be opened. Jiangsu Normal University also said it will steadily advance digital yuan salary payments for employees under unified arrangements tied to the national digital yuan pilot program.