Chinese premier calls for improving multi-tiered social security system

Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for further reform of the social security system, including broader coverage, stronger pension and insurance arrangements, and improved protection for people in flexible and new forms of employment.

BEIJING, Nov. 12 -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday called for further deepening social security reform and improving a multi-tiered social security system that covers the entire population in both urban and rural areas and is fair and unified, safe and well-regulated, and sustainable.

Li made the remarks while presiding over a State Council study session on improving the multi-tiered social security system and further strengthening the social security safety net.

China has basically established the world's largest and fully functional social security system. Yet changes in the demographic structure, technological progress and diverse forms of employment have placed new and higher demands on the development of the social security system, Li said.

He noted that the country must proceed from its own realities, balance doing the best with doing what is possible, and raise social security levels steadily as the economy develops.

Li also underlined the need to clarify the responsibilities of the government, employers, individuals and society, so that responsibilities are properly shared and a long-term mechanism of mutual assistance is formed. While meeting basic needs and providing a safety net, the system should offer more varied forms of provision to meet people's multi-tiered and diverse needs.

He called for accelerating efforts to address weak links, expand coverage of enterprise annuities, make the personal pension scheme more attractive, support the growth of commercial health insurance, and steadily advance the long-term care insurance system.

He said greater attention should be given to people in flexible employment and new forms of employment, with improvements to their social security arrangements, a gradual increase in participation rates, and stronger protection of their rights and interests.

Li also highlighted the need to make the social security system fairer, steadily raise pension protection for urban and rural residents, make better use of unemployment insurance, improve the tiered and classified social assistance system, and refine the social welfare system.

He added that supervision of the social security fund should be strengthened, the fund's value preserved and increased, and relevant laws and regulations revised in a timely manner to provide stronger legal support.