(Yicai Global) Aug. 30 -- Six courier companies with business in China, including STO Express and J&T Express, are expected to give their employees a pay rise next month.

The six firms have separately announced on their websites that they will add a charge of CNY0.1 (2 US dollar cents) per parcel from Sept. 1 onward, which would result in an increase of CNY500 (USD77) per employee who delivers 200 parcels a day. The sum will not directly be added to delivery fees.

The hikes that are in line with the government's increased attention to labor rights should do good for the development of the logistics sector, Essence Securities wrote in a research report. But as the peak season approaches, there are small pressures to raise the fees for consumers, it added.

Shanghai-based ZTO Express was the first to reveal the new policy on Aug. 27. YTO Express, Yunda Express, and Best Express followed suit.

The companies unveiled other policies to support their staff. Jakarta-headquartered J&T Express said it will form an inspection team and Malaysia's Best Express pledged to protect the rights and interests of delivery staff in delivery charges, salary, insurance, training, and incentives.

Before this, the intensifying competition has forced courier firms that have been benefiting from China's booming e-commerce sector to cut their prices. In 2020, unit delivery prices were slashed to CNY10.55 (USD1.60) from CNY24.60 in 2010.

Last year, Chinese courier firms delivered nearly 83.4 billion parcels, almost 36 times up from 2010, according to the State Post Bureau. The number may rise nearly 15 percent this year from 2020, it added.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi