More than half of the companies polled nationwide will slightly increase their annual bonus.

The poll, by human resources company Careers International, surveyed 1,000 companies, including State-own firms, private companies and multinationals.

It found 58 percent of the companies said they will raise the bonus, with a ceiling of 10 percent. Some 71 percent of State-owned companies, 64 percent of private firms and 52 percent of multinationals will increase the payment.

In Guangzhou and Shanghai, the poll found about 40 percent of the companies said they will lower the bonus this year.