The smallest amount that a worker can be paid is called the minimum wage. It's an important number because it affects the quality of life of millions of workers around the world.

Every country has a different minimum wage. Politicians use the cost of living to set it. They ask, "How much does a worker need to make ends meet?" The problem is that the situation is always changing. Sometimes the costs of food, gas, and rent go up but the minimum wage stays the same. This can make it hard on workers.

Politicians don't like raising the minimum wage because they feel it hurts businesses, which need to pay more for their workers. However, many disagree with this. They say that a higher minimum wage puts more money in everyone's pocket. That means people spend more, and the economy improves as a result.

勞工可領取到的報酬最小值，稱為最低薪資。此數字舉足輕重，因為攸關全球上百萬名勞工的生活品質。

每個國家均制定不同的最低薪資標準。政客依據生活水準來訂定，也就是以「勞工需要多少薪資才能讓生活收支打平」來衡量。問題是情況會不斷變動，有時飲食、汽油和租金等開銷上漲，但最低薪資仍停滯不變，對勞工來說，實在苦不堪言。

政客避免調升最低薪資的原因，在於他們認為不利於企業，因為資方必須向勞方支付更多費用。但是，許多人不認同此看法，因為最低薪資提高，表示每個人的可支配金額變多，因此消費能力變好而能促進經濟發展。