Lu Feiran/Shanghai Daily news

Ayis working in Shanghai have begun feeling the economic crisis along with their employers with many facing salary cuts or losing their jobs.

Shanghai household service companies said that from October the salary for ayis - housekeeping maids in the Shanghai dialect - started to drop as many families tightened budgets. Ayi salaries dropped from a peak of 15 yuan (US$2.2) an hour to 12 yuan. The lowest was 7 yuan an hour, companies said.